15:20 Ludlow

Monday 27 November 2023

All12:3513:0513:4014:1514:5015:2015:50

Marsh Commercial Mares' Novices' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:20 | Winning time: 5m 35.36s

Minniemum⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Alice Stevens⁽⁵⁾| T: H D Daly| OR: 97

11/4

From a good family and made a sound start to her handicap career when third at Hereford in January. Better than she could show on return from 9-months off when fifth there (19.7f, good to firm) just under 6 weeks ago (bad mistake 2 out) and every chance she can feature.

Form: 0/4353-5

Masked Dance¹⁸⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-13| J: Alex Edwards| T: Mrs M Rowley| OR: 96WS

9/1

Made the frame both starts in bumpers and ran her best race over hurdles when runner-up at Huntingdon (15.8f, good to firm) in May. 2 lb higher on return and step back up in trip a slight worry (did fail to get home when trying this sort of trip back in January). Had wind op.

Form: 4369U-2

Our Pink Lady^t¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Alex Chadwick⁽⁷⁾| T: James Owen| OR: 95

50/1

Placed both starts over hurdles for Stuart Crawford but no impact on both outings for this yard in maiden hurdles this month. Heads into handicaps and will need to show plenty more to figure.

Form: 7533-P6

Cooleenymore¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Joe Anderson⁽⁵⁾| T: R Walford| OR: 93

3/1

Showed improved form on return/handicap debut when runner-up at Chepstow (23.6f, heavy) earlier this month, well suited by the step up in trip. Conditional takes off a handy 5 lb and every chance she'll be in the shake-up.

Form: 2335-22

Houston Calling¹⁸⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Mrs M Rowley| OR: 90

16/1

Clearly no star but has shown promise in novice/maiden hurdles back in the spring. Could well prove a different proposition on return now handicapping.

Form: 7636-4

Shiroccosmagicbaby⁴⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Christian Williams| OR: 90

28/1

Winning Irish pointer who offered plenty to work on when second in a Hereford maiden hurdle (19.7f) on Rules debut in February. However, was soundly beaten in a couple of starts last month and now ventures down the handicap route.

Form: 34/12-7P

Nancy Till¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Charlie Hammond| T: M Young| OR: 80

80/1

Promising in Irish points but yet to get anywhere near replicating that over hurdles, pulled up sporting a first-time hood at Chepstow (19.4f, heavy) earlier this month. Headgear discarded and best watched.

Form: 25U6-0P

Happy Index⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: P R Webber| OR: 79| CD

15/2

Got off the mark over C&D in May before running at least as well in defeat when second in 5-runner event at Fontwell a fortnight later. Looked rusty returning after 5 months off at Hereford recently so she needs to get back on track.

Form: F74-12P

Den The Diva²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: Stan Sheppard| T: A Irvine| OR: 80

50/1

Little impact in bumper/mares' hurdles, latest after 8 months off at Plumpton (15.9f, good to soft) recently. Back up in trip for her handicap debut and will need to leave previous efforts behind.

Form: 074-9

Tuscan Rose¹⁹³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 76

8/1

Little to shout about so far, finishing last but not beaten far at Fontwell (21.8f, good to firm) 6 months ago. May yet do better when the emphasis is more on stamina so not entirely dismissed.

Form: 0065F-7

Only Fools^h,t¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-5| J: Jack Tudor| T: D Pipe| OR: 75

5/1

Fair Flat winner in France and hit the crossbar in handicap hurdles at Newton Abbot and Worcester in May/June. Has mostly held form since, but needs to leave a lesser effort behind earlier this month and has had plenty of chances to get her head in front.

Form: 224357

Hidden Belle^t1⁵⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 71WS

18/1

Showed nothing in trio of novice hurdles (latest after 10 months off) but is bred to be suited by longer trips so could well prove a different proposition now handicapping. Had a wind op and a tongue tie is applied.

Form: 00-0

Forecasts

Minniemum (11/4), Cooleenymore (3/1), Only Fools (5/1), Happy Index (15/2), Tuscan Rose (8/1), Masked Dance (9/1), Houston Calling (16/1), Hidden Belle (18/1), Shiroccosmagicbaby (28/1), Our Pink Lady (50/1), Den The Diva (50/1), Nancy Till (80/1)

Plenty in with a squeak but preference is for MINNIEMUM, who is better than she could show on return at Hereford last month and Henry Daly's mare can get off the mark provided she keeps jumping errors to a minimum. Cooleenymore was well suited by the step up in trip on her handicap bow at Chepstow earlier this month and she may have to settle for silver for a third start in succession, ahead of Houston Calling and Hidden Belle.