Ardencote Spa Conditional Jockeys' Mares' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:09 | Winning time: 4m 42.0s

Mary^t⁵⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: P Hanlon⁽³⁾| T: Ian Williams| OR: 105| C

10/3

Course handicap hurdle winner last summer. Held back by her jumping when 12 lengths third in a course handicap chase 7 weeks ago and likely to be in the mix back hurdling.

Form: F23F0-3

Versace Twentyone⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: Jamie Brace| T: Sheila Lewis| OR: 104

11/2

Won Roscommon bumper for Gordon Elliott last summer and off the mark for new connections at Ludlow (21f, good) in April. Hasn't backed that up twice since but soft ground was possibly against her at Worcester latest.

Form: 4521-4P

Claim Du Brizais^t³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Harry Atkins⁽⁶⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 103

4/1

Fair bumper winner who left a disappointing hurdle debut behind when getting up in the dying strides in 2m novice at Newton Abbot last month. Has obvious unexposed potential now making a quick switch to handicaps for her top yard.

Form: 2/331-41

Back In The Bay³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Alex Chadwick| T: James Owen| OR: 101

15/8

Came good in 2½m Fakenham maiden hurdle in May on only her second start for James Owen. Backed that up when 8 lengths second in Worcester handicap (2½m again) 38 days ago. Sure to go well again.

Form: 47P3-12

Addosh^t¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Dylan Johnston| T: B Ellison| OR: 100

10/1

Ended a long losing run in 7-runner handicap hurdle at Sedgefield (17f, firm) in May. Fair fifth at Hexham next time and better than recent form figures on the Flat might suggest.

Form: 3586-15

La Cantate⁵⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-4| J: Charlie Price| T: R L Llewellyn| OR: 86

10/1

Just minor promise in 4 starts for Clive Boultbee-Brooks and failed to improve switched to a handicap for new trainer Robbie Llewellyn when sixth of 10 at Worcester (2½m) in May. Early days but improvement is needed.

Form: 6524-6

Forecasts

Back In The Bay (15/8), Mary (10/3), Claim Du Brizais (4/1), Versace Twentyone (11/2), La Cantate (10/1), Addosh (10/1)

BACK IN THE BAY is yet another who is thriving for James Owen and is narrowly preferred to Dan Skelton's Claim du Brizais, who makes a quick switch to handicaps on the back of her Newton Abbot novice success.