19:00 Stratford

Saturday 31 May 2025

All17:3018:0018:3019:0019:3020:0020:3021:00

Shirley Guest 80th Birthday Celebration Mares' Novices' Limited Handicap Hurdle (Div 2)

Off time: 19:00 | Winning time: 3m 59.24s

Jo's Rainbow^t³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 88

9/4

10f Flat winner who performed well on a couple of occasions over hurdles last summer, including when fourth in a big-field handicap here. Underwhelming reappearance at Taunton following wind surgery but was easy to back that day. Not ruled out if market speaks more favourably.

Form: 344775-

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Amberelli³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: S Bowen| T: M Keighley| OR: 86

7/2

Steady improvement in maiden/novice company and posted best effort to date when beaten just over 5 lengths on handicap debut at Ludlow (21.2f) last month. Going the right way but faces much sharper test here.

Form: 9456-

Fillyfudge³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: J M Quinlan| T: Lemos Souza| OR: 84

10/3

3-time 10f winner on Flat. Suited by the return to sharper track/better ground when runner-up to a subsequent winner over C&D in March. Couldn't justify favouritism back on the Flat at Yarmouth earlier this month but still ran with credit. Reverts to hurdles with solid claims.

Form: 470/352-

Sadies Diamond^h⁶⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Daniel Sansom⁽³⁾| T: J W Mullins| OR: 83

14/1

Maiden but was placed 3 times in handicap chases for John Joseph Hanlon last summer but keen and offered little on debut for current connections at Hereford (19.7f). Something to prove now.

Form: 23F278-

Masonbrook Meadow²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-3| J: M G Nolan| T: J W Mullins| OR: 85

12/1

Fair maiden on the Flat who has made the frame on each of her 5 completed starts over hurdles last season. Entitled to be sharper for recent run at Fontwell but will likely be playing for minor honours again.

Form: 244P2-8

Organic^p⁴²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-1| J: C O'Farrell| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 83

28/1

A 3-time winner up to 1¼m on Flat for George Boughey in 2024. Some promise in qualifying hurdle runs but has made a very low-key start in handicaps, well beaten at long odds. Difficult to fancy unless market hints at a revival.

Form: 75657-

Opticality²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: David Noonan| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 75

4/1

Dual winner on Flat for Mitchell Hunt and has performed creditably back hurdling for this yard, her only blemish coming on very testing ground at Newton Abbot. Should be competitive.

Form: 457/46-4

Sweet Serene^t1⁵¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: Tabitha Worsley⁽³⁾| T: G Howell| OR: 69

100/1

Best effort in bumpers (modest form) when fourth of 11 at Bangor last June but offered little over hurdles. Wears tongue tie for handicap debut but needs to find significant improvement.

Form: 97/4456-

Non-Runners

Pomeriggio²⁰

Weight: 11-9| Age: 4

T: Mrs N S Evans J: Benjamin Poste

Forecasts

Jo's Rainbow (9/4), Fillyfudge (10/3), Amberelli (7/2), Opticality (4/1), Pomeriggio (7/1), Masonbrook Meadow (12/1), Sadies Diamond (14/1), Organic (28/1), Sweet Serene (100/1)

FILLYFUDGE ran about her best hurdles race when runner-up behind a subsequent winner over this C&D in March and she can open her account in this sphere at the expense of Opticality who has been running creditably over hurdles on decent ground. Jo's Rainbow has also run well here in the past and would be interesting if the market hints at a return to form on second start following wind surgery.