Southern Cranes Mares' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:25 | Winning time: 6m 34.47s

Midnightreflection^b¹⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 12-1| J: Mr Charlie Case⁽⁷⁾| T: B I Case| OR: 111| CD

7/2

C&D winner isn't the force of old but fared better last twice, fourth of 10 in a handicap at Warwick last month and ran to a similar level in first-time blinkers, fourth of 9 in handicap hurdle at Market Rasen (23.1f, good to soft, 20/1) 10 days ago. Should be competitive in an open looking race.

Form: P84644

Squiggles⁴⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Alex Chadwick⁽⁵⁾| T: James Owen| OR: 110

2/1

45,000 buy after winning point in Ireland. Chased home decent types in maidens before winning on handicap debut (Doncaster, 24.4f), looking an out and out stayer, ridden 3 out and found plenty. Up 5 lb but lightly-raced and remains of interest for excellent yard.

Form: 1-0221

Fortuna Ligna^t,v³¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-13| J: Chad Bament⁽¹⁰⁾| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 109

11/4

Decent third at Ascot in November (closely matched with Midnightreflection) and build on that, running respectably in a much warmer handicap than this last-time (Sixth of 8, Kempton, 24.6f). Respected.

Form: 41-2436

River Tyne³²

Age: 10| Weight: 10-13| J: James Davies| T: N J Gifford| OR: 95| C

4/1

Course winner scored on 3 of her last 4 over fences, career-best when winning a 6-runner handicap chase at Fontwell (26f, soft) 32 days ago, joined 3 out but rallied to lead, showed a game attitude. Arrives in good heart and one for the shortlist racing off an 8 lb lower mark over hurdles today.

Form: 23-1181

Ellie's Warrior^t⁴⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: Harry Kimber| T: Ben Clarke| OR: 83WS

11/1

Beaten a fair way both starts in bumpers and similar story in maiden hurdles. Makes handicap debut from 1 lb out of the handicap (following wind surgery) and others preferred.

Form: 697-78

Non-Runners

La Dolce Dolly²⁷

Weight: 11-4| Age: 6

T: A Irvine J: N F Houlihan

Gata Ban³²

Weight: 10-10| Age: 8

T: N P Mulholland J: R P McLernon

Forecasts

Squiggles (2/1), Fortuna Ligna (11/4), Midnightreflection (7/2), River Tyne (4/1), Ellie's Warrior (11/1), Gata Ban (12/1), La Dolce Dolly (12/1)

Lightly-raced Squiggles and prolific chaser River Tyne will both need to be ridden aggressively to bring their stamina into the mix and that could play into the hands of live outsider GATA BAN who has shown signs of promise on his last two runs and will be nursed into the race by a jockey who excels under patient tactics. Fortuna Ligna and Midnightreflection have both operated at a higher level than this, and a revival from either would not come as a surprise.