20:45 Aintree

Friday 16 June 2023

All17:1517:5018:2519:0019:3520:1020:45

Watch Race Replays At racingtv.com Mares' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 20:45 | Winning time: 6m 14.46s

Nora The Xplorer^b²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Theo Gillard| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 106

7/1

Pair of mares' novice wins at up to 3m early in 2022 and plenty of creditable efforts in handicaps since, including recent second of 9 at Stratford. Likely to be in the shake-up again.

Form: 33634-2

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Born Famous³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: C O'Farrell| T: I Jardine| OR: 105

5/2

Failed to win in Ireland but different proposition for new yard, winning handicap hurdle and chase Perth in recent months. Had plenty in hand over fences last time and likely to make a bold bid for the hat-trick back hurdling.

Form: 7P601-1

Dicey Rielly¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: S Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 105

3/1

Got off the mark in a chase at Ffos Las (19f) in April and shrugged off a lesser run over fences there a month later when landing a 23f Worcester handicap hurdle 13 days ago. Stable in cracking form and 7 lb rise seems unlikely to prevent another prominent showing.

Form: 26F1-51

Martalindy³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Thomas Dowson| T: P A Kirby| OR: 104

14/1

Won a weak mares' maiden hurdle at Huntingdon last autumn. Only sixth on handicap debut back from a break in April and stopped as if amiss (reported to have made a respiratory noise) when pulled up at Newcastle since. Others are more obvious.

Form: 9/B126-P

Emily Wade^h²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: Jonathan England| T: S England| OR: 91

11/4

Hasn't done much wrong since switched to handicaps in this sphere, winning at Southwell (20.5f) in March and good second on all 3 outings since, the latest when stepped up to 3m+ for the first time at Cartmel.

Form: 0312-22

Maroochi¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: Harry Kimber⁽³⁾| T: Kieran Burke| OR: 90

8/1

Deservedly opened her account at Newton Abbot (21.5f) last September. Looked rusty after 6 months off when fifth back at Newton Abbot 16 days ago. Needs to have come on for that.

Form: 221FF-5

Miss Pearl^h²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Tabitha Worsley⁽³⁾| T: Sheila Lewis| OR: 88

28/1

Shaped better than previously in a first-time hood/under a change of tactics when fourth of 11 in maiden at Ludlow (21f, good to soft) last month but disappointing sixth of 7 on 3m Ffos Las handicap debut since.

Form: 6F/66-46

Non-Runners

Miss Milano⁵⁰

Weight: 12-0| Age: 8

T: N G Richards J: Conor Rabbitt

Forecasts

Born Famous (5/2), Emily Wade (11/4), Dicey Rielly (3/1), Miss Milano (6/1), Nora The Xplorer (7/1), Maroochi (8/1), Martalindy (14/1), Miss Pearl (28/1)

BORN FAMOUS has been transformed by the switch to Iain Jardine and is taken to extend her winning run for her new yard to 3. Dicey Rielly quickened clear in good style at Worcester last time and is feared most for the in-form Peter Bowen team. The consistent Emily Wade is also respected.