newtonabbotracing.com Mares' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:11 | Winning time: 6m 35.10s

Danzini^p1,t1¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: G Sheehan| T: Kieran Burke| OR: 81

3/1

Won at Southwell last summer but arrives after a brace of poor efforts, going in snatches when down the field at Stratford (26.4f, good, 12/1) 17 days ago. Tongue strap and cheekpieces now applied.

Form: 2217P-7

Saxon Queen¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: S Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 72

13/8

Clearly not straightforward but showed her first form after a 20-month break when second of 7 in handicap hurdle at Ffos Las (23.9f, good) 11 days ago. Player if able to back that up.

Form: 9050/2

Rubys Reward^t⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: Ben Jones| T: Mrs D A Hamer| OR: 72| D

85/40

Landed a gamble for Anthony Honeyball at Fontwell last spring and ran her best race for this yard when fourth of 13 in handicap hurdle at Taunton (23.9f, soft, 11/1) 41 days ago. Clearly stays well and isn't ruled out.

Form: 505744-

Rule 4

Rule 4 applies to all bets - deduction 10p in the pound

Non-Runners

Dancingontheedge¹⁸

Weight: 12-0| Age: 6

T: P F Nicholls J: Freddie Gingell

Gio's Girl⁴⁰

Weight: 11-1| Age: 10

T: P Gundry J: Harry Kimber

Baby Sham⁴

Weight: 11-0| Age: 5

T: J W Mullins J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Dancingontheedge (11/10), Saxon Queen (13/8), Rubys Reward (85/40), Danzini (3/1), Baby Sham (7/1), Gio's Girl (7/1)

This looks a gilt-edged opportunity for DANCINGONTHEEDGE to get off the mark over hurdles, beaten only by narrow margins on 2 of her last 3 starts and clearly still on a workable handicap mark. The danger could be Rubys Reward, who will be suited by this stamina test and can take another step back in the right direction.