16:35 Carlisle

Sunday 9 March 2025

All14:0014:3015:0015:3016:0016:3517:10

Blackwell Mares' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:35 | Winning time: 4m 27.86s

Roaring Home³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: David Bass| T: H D Daly| OR: 104| D

5/1

Promise in bumpers and perfect start over hurdles when bagging Exeter mares' maiden (17f) on return in October. However, hasn't gone on from that effort since, well-beaten fifth of 7 in handicap at Kempton (16f, soft, 14/1) a month ago.

Form: 4-21P45

Lady Babs^p²⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 11-10| J: Conor Rabbitt⁽³⁾| T: A Crook| OR: 100| CD

6/1

Now into the veteran stage but made it back-to-back wins when scoring in 7-runner handicap at this C&D (good to soft, 9/2) 20 days ago, her first success away from Market Rasen. Can make a bold bid for the hat-trick.

Form: 0B3511

Bellbird^p³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 96

10/3

Has been running well without winning this winter, quickly leaving behind a lesser effort when sixth of 11 in handicap hurdle at Bangor (16.7f, heavy) a month ago, keeping on again after a bad mistake 4 out. Merits consideration back down in grade.

Form: 282266

She's A Rocca^p⁸⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 10-8| J: Sean Quinlan| T: N G Richards| OR: 84

7/1

Without a win this term, but after 4 months off she bounced back to form when a good second in 12-runner handicap at Newcastle (16.9f, good to soft, 25/1) in December. Absent again since, though she's interesting from her current mark.

Form: 1-PP702

Joto⁵²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: Danny McMenamin| T: Paul Collins| OR: 84

13/2

Made the frame on second of 2 starts in bumpers and looks to have been brought along gradually over hurdles so far, well-beaten fifth of 11 in maiden at Newcastle (16.9f, good to soft, 40/1) 52 days ago. Capable of better now handicapping.

Form: 64505

Mullins Cross^p²⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-5| J: Ben Smith⁽⁷⁾| T: R M Smith| OR: 81| D

12/1

Dual winner for John Joseph Hanlon, with latest victory in handicap at Bangor (16.7f) in December 2023. Unable to match that form since, though ran better than on yard debut when 10 lengths fourth of 7 to Lady Babs in handicap (25/1) at this C&D 20 days ago.

Form: 8-50484

Milajess^b1,t²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: Joshua Thompson⁽⁷⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 78

11/4

Remains a maiden but has run well when finding only one too strong on her last 2 starts, bumping into another improver in 11-runner handicap at Musselburgh (15.6f, good to soft, 10/3) 3 weeks ago. Respected with blinkers on first time.

Form: 274522

Lunar Rocks^p²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-2| J: William Maggs⁽⁵⁾| T: R M Smith| OR: 81

80/1

Maiden on the Flat and has offered little sent hurdling last 3 starts, always behind when sixth of 9 in mares' maiden at Newcastle (16.9f, good to soft, 400/1) 24 days ago. Makes handicap hurdle debut with cheekpieces added (had worn on Flat).

Form: P66

Non-Runners

Holly Bird³⁴

Weight: 11-2| Age: 6

T: A M Thomson J: Ryan Mania

Forecasts

Milajess (11/4), Bellbird (10/3), Roaring Home (5/1), Lady Babs (6/1), Joto (13/2), She's A Rocca (7/1), Holly Bird (10/1), Mullins Cross (12/1), Lunar Rocks (80/1)

After winning at Market Rasen last month, LADY BABS produced a career best when following up at this C&D 20 days ago and she is taken to score again in her current form. Milajess has been finding her feet again from her reduced mark and could be the main danger, ahead of Bellbird.