14:50 Ayr

Saturday 8 March 2025

All13:4214:1714:5015:2516:0016:3517:10

LiveScore Bet Mares' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:50 | Winning time: 5m 58.86s

Sunday Soldier²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 12-1| J: Nick Slatter⁽³⁾| T: D Killahena & G McPherson| OR: 121

8/1

Improved in leaps and bounds over hurdles last season, completing a 5-timer in handicaps. Has shown enough this season to suggest she can go close from this sort of mark. Exceed expectations latest when keeping on to finish second in a mares Listed event and remains of interest back in a handicap.

Form: 4-52292

Lavida Adiva¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Charlie Maggs⁽⁵⁾| T: Ruth Jefferson| OR: 120| BF| D

5/1

Progressive mare bagged an Aintree handicap (2½m, soft) on Boxing Day and ran every bit as well in defeat when not enjoying a smooth passage finishing second of 6 in handicap hurdle at Market Rasen (20.6f) last month. She's going the right way and there could well be more improvement to come.

Form: 32-6812

Sunset Hill¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Nathan Moscrop| T: S Corbett| OR: 115| D

14/1

Opened hurdles account in 21f novice at Kelso in December before posting an excellent second of 7 in a Southwell handicap on New Year's Day. Ran to a similar level latest when fifth of 6 in handicap hurdle at Market Rasen, not suited by emphasis on speed. Should enjoy this stiffer test.

Form: 521255

Mellificent²⁹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Sean Quinlan| T: Lizzie Quinlan| OR: 114

28/1

Winner on hurdles debut at Carlisle (2½m, soft) last October before finishing mid-field in listed mares' novice events on her next 2 outings. Departed through no fault of her own when sent handicapping on final run for Jonjo O'Neill in April and worth a market check on reappearance/stable debut.

Form: 16/145-U

Ruby Island¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Danny McMenamin| T: N G Richards| OR: 112| C

10/3

Won on hurdles debut here in 2022. Lightly raced since but has run creditably in three starts for new stable, rallying to finish second at Carlisle (19.3f, good to soft) 19 days ago. Makes plenty of appeal with longer trip expected to suit.

Form: 27/7-322

Dollar Collar^t¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: P W Wadge| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 110

14/1

Irish point winner quickly reached a fair level over hurdles last year but has struggled to match that form this season. Handicapper has given her a chance though, and she'd be relatively interesting if the market hints at a return to form.

Form: 12-PP54

Just Call Me Lucy³³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: M Walford| OR: 108

12/1

Bumper winer was off the mark in this sphere in 10-runner novice hurdle at Wetherby (19.7f, soft) on Boxing Day but denied herself the chance to follow up that victory when blundering 3 out last time, second of 5 at Carlistle (19.2f). Steps into warmer waters for handicap hurdle debut.

Form: 78-3312

Fox's Fancy¹⁴³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 108

5/1

Lightly-raced maiden hurdle winner improved for switch to handicaps when fourth of 11 in handicap hurdle at Wetherby (24.1f) in October and she could well be open to more improvement now back in mares company. Very interesting if ready to roll on return.

Form: 552/21-4

Anti Bridgie^p⁴⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: Henry Brooke| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 102| D

14/1

Fairly useful hurdler in 2022/2023 season but has been campaigned over fences since, getting off the mark in a 2m4f chase at Warwick last season. Has gone off the boil this season, pulling up on her last 3 outings. Returns to smaller obstacles, but others in much better form at present.

Form: 314-PPP

Santa Clarita⁴⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Peter Kavanagh⁽³⁾| T: W Young Jnr| OR: 92

25/1

Ran best race for current yard when good second of 18 in a handicap hurdle at this course (20.4f, soft) in January, but followed it up with a very poor effort later that month. Needs to bounce back and faces uphill task from 2 lb out of the handicap.

Form: 65282P

Anamanda²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: Dominic Hislop⁽¹⁰⁾| T: N W Alexander| OR: 89

6/1

Finished creditable second over C&D on penultimate run and backed that up when third of 8 in handicap hurdle at Musselburgh (23.8f, good to soft) 20 days ago. In good heart but this is a step up in class and she'll need to improve from 5 lb out of the handicap.

Form: 692423

Forecasts

Ruby Island (10/3), Fox's Fancy (5/1), Lavida Adiva (5/1), Anamanda (6/1), Sunday Soldier (8/1), Just Call Me Lucy (12/1), Sunset Hill (14/1), Dollar Collar (14/1), Anti Bridgie (14/1), Santa Clarita (25/1), Mellificent (28/1)

Course-winner RUBY ISLAND is fairly handicapped on the best of her form, and makes most appeal with this longer trip expected to suit. She'll be best suited if this is a truly-run race, as will Fox's Fancy who is stepping back in distance following a highly encouraging handicap debut last season. The improving Lavida Adiva could be a threat to all if continuing her current upward trajectory.