20:05 Aintree

Friday 17 May 2024

All17:4518:2018:5519:3020:0520:40

HA Civils Franny Blennerhassett Memorial Mares' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 20:06 | Winning time: 5m 1.55s

Salsada^p²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Craig Nichol| T: B Ellison| OR: 120

7/1

Useful Flat winner who was placed twice in 2m handicap hurdles in March and a below-par run in last month's Scottish Champion Hurdle can be forgiven as she faced a stiff task from out of the handicap.

Form: 25/0330-

Space Voyage^t²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-13| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 119| D

13/2

Three novice hurdle wins at the star of 2023. Mixed record since but she bounced back to form to win a 6-runner Perth handicap last month. Only nudged up 2 lb.

Form: 7357P1-

My Chiquita^h¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: J M Quinlan| T: B Brookhouse| OR: 115| D

5/1

Fair handicapper on Flat and won first 2 starts over hurdles in October. Lost her unbeaten hurdle record but caught the eye when fourth of 11 in handicap at Hereford (19.5f) 10 days ago, travelling well long way. Interesting.

Form: 11-4

Touchy Feely²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: James Bowen| T: N J Henderson| OR: 115

28/1

Dual hurdles winner. Has failed to complete over fences on her last 2 outings but may fare better back hurdling.

Form: 15/4PFP-

Mellificent^t²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 114| D

15/2

Fairly useful bumper winner who made a successful start over hurdles in 9-runner novice at Carlisle (2½m, soft) in October. Better form in defeat at listed level since and unexposed now handicapping.

Form: 216/145-

Sammy's Guarantee^t,h⁵³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Stan Sheppard| T: T Lacey| OR: 113

11/1

Much improved (after a breathing op) when taking a 14-runner novice hurdle at Doncaster (2m, soft) in January. Second on handicap debut next time and shaped as if still in good form when fifth of 7 at Huntingdon (20.5f, good) on latest start.

Form: 6912F5-

Simply Red^t¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: M Walford| OR: 112| D

33/1

Enhanced excellent Bangor record with 2 wins there last summer for Donald McCain. Well held in 2 Flat outings for new yard last month but may fare better back hurdling.

Form: 61126F-

Brave Jen⁷⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Freddie Gordon⁽⁵⁾| T: N J Henderson| OR: 112

28/1

Has some fair form over hurdles but ran no sort of race on 2m Newbury handicap debut in March. The stable was under a bit of a cloud at the time, though, and she might do better back from a break.

Form: 402P3P-

Could Be Trouble^b,t⁴²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: Abbie McCain⁽⁵⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 111| D

25/1

Hurdles/chase winner who ended a longish losing run from a career-low mark at Catterick (19f, soft) in February. Followed that with a poor run at Musselburgh, though.

Form: 323410-

Masked Dance⁴⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Mrs M Rowley| OR: 109

15/2

Much improved for switch to handicaps, second twice prior to running out a dominant winner at Doncaster (19.5f, soft) in January. Pulled up at Ludlow in February but shaped as if back in form when fourth of 7 back there last month.

Form: U/221P4-

Majestic Jameela²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: C Gethings| T: S Edmunds| OR: 114| D

11/2

Capitalised on handy opening mark at Plumpton (2m) in February and cranked it up another notch when a decisive scorer at Uttoxeter (2½m) in April. Best work at finish when third of 11 over 17 at Cheltenham since. One to consider back up in distance.

Form: 271213-

Nora The Xplorer^p³³⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: Henry Brooke| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 103| D

11/1

Pair of mares' novice wins at up to 3m for Donald McCain in early in 2022 and plenty of creditable efforts in handicaps since. Not seen for 11 months but it'll be interesting to see what the betting makes of her with new stable among the winners.

Form: 3634/25-

Lady Malarkey²³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: R Patrick| T: R Potter| OR: 92| D

11/1

Made light of a long absence when springing a 20/1 surprise at Uttoxeter (2m, heavy) last month on her first outing for the Ryan Potter yard. Also a winner over this trip. Claims if she can string good runs together.

Form: 7P136/1-

Maroochi¹⁰⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: James Turner⁽⁷⁾| T: Kieran Burke| OR: 81

18/1

Deservedly shed maiden tag when dead heating at Newton Abbot (21.5f, good to soft) in September 2022 but hasn't scored since. Latest Wincanton third in February was respectable but it's likely that wait for another win will go on from well out of the handicap.

Form: 353053-

Forecasts

My Chiquita (5/1), Majestic Jameela (11/2), Space Voyage (13/2), Salsada (7/1), Masked Dance (15/2), Mellificent (15/2), Lady Malarkey (11/1), Nora The Xplorer (11/1), Sammy's Guarantee (11/1), Maroochi (18/1), Could Be Trouble (25/1), Touchy Feely (28/1), Brave Jen (28/1), Simply Red (33/1)

The return to 2½m will suit MAJESTIC JAMEELA who can continue her fine start to her handicap hurdle career. My Chiquita shaped well on her handicap hurdle debut at Hereford recently and is second choice ahead of last month's Perth scorer Space Voyage.