16:05 Stratford

Sunday 21 May 2023

All14:0514:3515:0515:3516:0516:3517:05

William Hill Pick Your Places Mares' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:05 | Winning time: 6m 31.60s

Nora The Xplorer^b⁵⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: William Maggs⁽⁷⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 103

11/1

Pair of mares' novice wins at up to 3m early in 2022 and ran up to best (in first-time blinkers) when third in handicap at Doncaster (19.4f) in January. Another sound effort when occupying fourth spot at Musselburgh a couple of months ago but more is needed back up in trip.

Form: 433634-

Shantou Sunset^p,t²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Charlie Price⁽³⁾| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 101| CD

9/2

Won this corresponding event 12 months ago on final start for Philip Hobbs and having been rather hit and miss after, bounced back to form when scoring over C&D 4 weeks ago. She remains well treated on old form but whether she's in the same mood is another issue.

Form: 4P7681-

Hello Sunshine^t⁷^{(ex 7)}

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Rex Dingle| T: George Baker| OR: 90

13/8

Produced a career best to double her tally over hurdles when scoring with ease on just her second outing for her current yard at Plumpton (25f, good to firm) 7 days ago. Major claims under a penalty provided this doesn't come too soon.

Form: 38/FP3-1

Hellfire Princess³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 91

6/1

Bumper winner who showed very little in her qualifying runs over hurdles but seems to be going the right way now, shaping as in need of further when third of 7 in handicap at Chepstow (23.6f, good to soft) just over 5 weeks ago. Needs considering upped in trip.

Form: 140/P53-

Treefinch²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: C Gethings| T: S Edmunds| OR: 90

12/1

Fair form to twice make the frame in maiden/novice hurdles last term but only seventh on first 2 starts switched to handicap company at Uttoxeter and Huntingdon. Not beaten as far when fifth at Warwick (21f, good to soft) earlier this month and she could hit the frame.

Form: 24377-5

Danzini²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: G Sheehan| T: Kieran Burke| OR: 83

12/1

Career best when winning 7-runner handicap hurdle at Southwell (24.3f, good) last July. However. followed that with a tame effort at Worcester the following month and probably needed the run after 8 months off at Taunton recently. More needed.

Form: 4/2217P-

Maid Of The Night²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: R Patrick| T: H D Daly| OR: 81

9/2

Point winner who justified strong support making a winning handicap debut at Hereford (21.5f, good) in February. Fell next time but put that firmly behind her when narrowly scoring at Ludlow (21.2f, good to soft) 25 days ago. Could have more to offer upped in trip.

Form: 9961F1-

Ratoute Yutty^t¹⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 10-2| J: Lewis Stones⁽³⁾| T: C Fryer| OR: 69

50/1

Both wins for her yard have come at Huntingdon under this rider but recent efforts have been rather flat. Faces a stiff task from out of the weights.

Form: 4P574-8

Firefly Lane^t³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Bryony Frost| T: J D Frost| OR: 64

33/1

Did reasonably well in points over the winter but offered little in a couple of starts at Exeter in recent months. Well out of the weights and can only be watched.

Form: UP32P0-

Non-Runners

Committee Of One⁴²

Weight: 10-2| Age: 8

T: T R Gretton J: David Noonan

Forecasts

Hello Sunshine (13/8), Maid Of The Night (9/2), Shantou Sunset (9/2), Hellfire Princess (6/1), Nora The Xplorer (11/1), Danzini (12/1), Treefinch (12/1), Committee Of One (20/1), Firefly Lane (33/1), Ratoute Yutty (50/1)

HELLO SUNSHINE was well suited by a longer trip when running out a facile winner at Plumpton last week and, provided this doesn't come too soon, George Baker's 7-y-o is likely to take some stopping in her follow-up bid under a penalty. Hellfire Princess should relish this extra distance so she could be the one to chase home the selection, ahead of recent winner Maid of The Night and Treefinch.