Oakmere Homes Mares' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 17:05 | Winning time: 6m 13.7s

Could Be Trouble^b,t³⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Theo Gillard| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 110

11/2

Fairly useful hurdler who shaped as though back in form when fifth of 17 in first-time blinkers (retained) at Cheltenham (20.2f, good) last month. 2 lb lower now and she has to enter calculations.

Form: 3F4455-

Mary Cassatt^t¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 12-0| J: Alex Harvey⁽⁷⁾| T: J C McConnell| OR: 121

13/8

Off the mark at the eighth time of asking over hurdles when accounting for 15 rivals in a Killarney maiden (22.2f, good) 12 days ago. However, she steps back into handicap company on what looks a stiff mark.

Form: 20403-1

Jersey Lady³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Miss Victoria Malzard⁽⁷⁾| T: O Sherwood| OR: 103| D

8/1

Cashed in off a reduced mark when striking under Victoria Malzard at Plumpton (25f, soft) last month. 2 lb nudge fair enough but more needed in this higher-grade handicap.

Form: 1/25031-

On We Go^p⁴⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-6| J: Sean Quinlan| T: G Boanas| OR: 102| C

18/1

Three-time winner last spring/summer and did the job well when getting her head back in front at Ayr in February. Possible excuses for poor efforts since (testing conditions at Uttoxeter then simply looked amiss at Kelso) but she's probably a shade too high in the weights in any case.

Form: 15F1PP-

Bright Sunbird^p¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Tabitha Worsley⁽³⁾| T: G Hanmer| OR: 98| C

4/1

Back to back winner last summer, including a 2¾m novice at this course. Returned to form following a break when finding just one too good at Ludlow (23.8f, good to soft) earlier this month and she's a leading candidate.

Form: 54657-2

Emily Wade^h¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Jonathan England| T: S England| OR: 89

10/3

Hasn't done much wrong since switched to handicaps in this sphere, off the mark at Southwell (20.4f, soft) in March and placed both subsequent starts. Stamina to prove now moving up in trip but will be a threat if she does see it out.

Form: 70312-2

Non-Runners

Paris Dixie¹⁹³

Weight: 11-11| Age: 8

T: A J Honeyball J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Mary Cassatt (13/8), Emily Wade (10/3), Bright Sunbird (4/1), Could Be Trouble (11/2), Paris Dixie (6/1), Jersey Lady (8/1), On We Go (18/1)

The vote goes to COULD BE TROUBLE, who returned to form when fifth in a Class 2 Cheltenham handicap and this step back up in trip looks a good move. Bright Sunbird produced her best effort for a while when hitting the crossbar at Ludlow recently and she is feared most, albeit only marginally as a pretty strong case can also be made for Emily Wade.