16:05 Taunton
Monday 8 January 2024
All12:5513:2513:5514:2515:0015:3016:05
Saturday Meeting 20th January Mares' Handicap Hurdle
- 4YO plus | Class 5 | 2m 104y | Soft (Good to Soft in places) | 13 Runners | Turf | Weighed In
- Off time: 16:06 | Winning time: 4m 13.50s
Cloth number
Odds
Star rating
Horse A-Z
Show odds
Fair form in pair of French bumpers in 2021 and best form for current yard when fourth in maiden hurdle at Warwick (2m, good to soft) last May. That form has been boosted since and she has to enter calculations now handicapping.
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Irish point winner but yet to better modest form in bumpers/over hurdles and reverts to this sphere on the back of a poor effort on chase debut at Hereford. Now tried in cheekpieces.
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Modest form in bumpers and failed to beat a rival on her only completed start over hurdles last season. Again struggled on return at Kempton in November and it's easy enough to look elsewhere. Handicap debut.
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Below par first 2 starts of this season but shaped as though back on the right track when fourth here (19f, good to soft) last time and she's now 1 lb lower than when winning this race 12 months ago. Key player.
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Modest performer on Flat, belatedly off the mark in that sphere on the AW in October. No great impact in 3 starts over hurdles to date, albeit latest fourth in a C&D novice wasn't a bad effort and she may do better now handicapping. Cheekpieces refitted (worn twice on the level).
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Fair form shown in bumpers and while she hasn't troubled the judge in a trio of starts over hurdles so far, better can be expected now pitched into a handicap. Will be interesting to see what the betting has to say.
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Went close in 3m mares' handicap here last April but she hasn't matched that level of form in 2 starts since returning from a break in November.
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Fair dual-purpose performer on her day but sole success in this sphere was gained back in March 2021 and while she wasn't disgraced when third at Ffos Las last time, that form is nothing to get excited about.
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Made second bumper start a winning one at Fakenham last February but lacks the physique and pedigree for jumping and has shown little in a trio of novice hurdles. Big step forward needed now handicapping.
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Point winner who was placed in a series of handicaps at around 2½m prior to finishing sixth of 16 with first-time cheekpieces enlisted at Chepstow (2m, good to soft). Headgear dispensed with on this debut for new yard and she's not without each-way hope.
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Fair maiden on the Flat but poor form in this sphere following 5 attempts and she's readily passed over.
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Has failed to land a meaningful blow in her 7 starts over hurdles but she continues to edge down the weights and could have a part to play here if the addition of cheekpieces helps eke out some improvement.
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Achieved very little all 4 starts over hurdles last term and fared no better on her reappearance at Sedgefield in November.
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Forecasts
Sawpit Sienna (3/1), Gaia Vallis (7/2), Selkirk Grace (13/2), Birdhouse (15/2), Ilary De L'Ecu (17/2), Damask (12/1), Opticality (16/1), Triple Nickle (16/1), Annie Wicks (20/1), Criquette (25/1), Boudica Warrior (28/1), Sevenofus (33/1), La Referi (33/1)
The form of the Warwick maiden in which ILARY DE L'ECU was a good fourth last spring is working out well and she is appealing now venturing down the handicap route. Next on the list is Sawpit Sienna, who landed this race 12 months ago and she shaped as though coming back to the boil here last time. Damask could be a threat if responding well to the new headgear, while handicap-debutantes Opticality and Selkirk Grace are both worth a second look.
- Ilary De L'Ecu17/2
- Damask12/1
Previous Winners
Prize Money
1st: £4,832.002nd: £2,223.003rd: £1,112.004th: £556.005th: £277.00
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