PricedUp.Bet Mares' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:45 | Winning time: 4m 43.60s

Mermaids Cave^p1²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Alex Chadwick⁽⁵⁾| T: James Owen| OR: 115| D

5/2

5-time hurdle winner (all coming on sharp tracks) since joining current connections. Underperformed in a 16-runner handicap at Cheltenham (20.3f) last time but may do better returned to a more speed favouring track in first time headgear.

Form: 417P10-

Masked Dance²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Mrs M Rowley| OR: 111| D

8/1

Dual hurdles winner placed as this track earlier in the season but had been badly out of sorts in subsequent outings, laboured effort when pulled-up at Cheltenham 3 weeks ago. Something to prove at present.

Form: 13930P-

Callin Baton Rouge¹⁷⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: C J Todd| T: C & A Pogson| OR: 109

11/2

Much improved for this yard, completing a handicap hurdle hat-trick last summer. Found her run of good form coming to a halt in a couple of stronger Cheltenham handicaps. Has been given a break and may well return to form back down in grade.

Form: 211180-

Walk Of No Shame^p²¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: K Brogan| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 108| D

16/1

Fair hurdler at her best, won a 2½m Worcester handicap last June but below form in trio of subsequent hurdle starts and ran even worse on chase debut in October. Has been freshened up and returns only 2 lb above her last winning mark. Chance if back on song.

Form: 015064-

Of Course You Can^t²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 104

2/1

Showed a turn of foot in a steadily run race when off the mark in 21f Ludlow handicap in October. Held her form since but faced an uphill task from out of the handicap at Cheltenham last month. Dropped 4 lb for that and is one to be interested back down in grade returned to a sharper track.

Form: 813270-

Taxus Baccata^p1¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: J M Quinlan| T: M Crawley| OR: 103| D

4/1

Irish point winner only ran to a modest level in maiden hurdles proved a different proposition when successful on chase debut at Plumpton in March. Was below form in a better race last month and now returns to smaller obstacles in first time headgear. Not ruled out from 5 lb lower hurdles mark.

Form: 374125-

Non-Runners

Ile De Jersey²¹

Weight: 12-0| Age: 7

T: N J Henderson J: James Bowen

Forecasts

Of Course You Can (2/1), Ile De Jersey (2/1), Mermaids Cave (5/2), Taxus Baccata (4/1), Callin Baton Rouge (11/2), Masked Dance (8/1), Walk Of No Shame (16/1)

In a tricky 7drunner handicap, it could pay to side with OF COURSE YOU CAN whose best efforts have come on sharp right-handed tracks and she's likely to be well positioned if this becomes a test of speed at the trip. Ile De Jersey was having only her second start of the season at Cheltenham (following a long absence) and may be worth another chance, with better expected from Mermaids Cave (first time headgear) and Callin Baton Rouge (returning from a break).