15:33 Ludlow

Wednesday 4 February 2026

All13:1313:4814:2314:5815:3316:0716:42

Late Roy Kneller 85th Birthday Mares' Handicap Hurdle

4YO plus | Class 4 | 2m 5f 55y | 11 Runners | Turf

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: J J Burke| T: F O'Brien| OR: 120

Landed 2m4f handicap hurdles at Chepstow/Cheltenham last spring. Below form in a couple of runs over fences this term before posting a creditable sixth of 10 back in this sphere at Kempton (3m) in December. Needs considering off a 3 lb lower mark.

Form: 11-5206

Masked Dance⁴⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Mrs M Rowley| OR: 118| CD

9/2

Resumed winning ways with a career best in 7-runner handicap hurdle over C&D (soft) 49 days ago. Up 5 lb but that form has been franked so she's not taken lightly.

Form: 0P-2251

Dramatic Encore^p1⁶⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Paul O'Brien| T: Harry Derham| OR: 114| D

8/1

Made a winning hurdles debut at Huntingdon last February but lightly raced since and she came in a well-held fourth of 7 in 2m4f Sandown handicap in December. More is needed with cheekpieces added.

Form: 4412-34

Pismo Beach^t1³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Charlie Hammond| T: S Edmunds| OR: 113

8/1

Returned to win 2m4f novice at Hexham in October and not discredited when third of 12 in novice at Warwick (21f, good to soft) 35 days ago. In the mix with a tongue strap now fitted.

Form: 43-1543

Notnowlinda⁷⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Tristan Durrell| T: D Skelton| OR: 113

33/1

Winless since early 2024 and she's yet to fire after 18 months off in a pair of handicap hurdles at Newbury and Ascot this November. Has work to do.

Form: 14/22-09

Magical Maggie⁶³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: C Gethings| T: A Ralph| OR: 113| C

6/1

Course winner who wasn't disgraced after 17 months off the track when fourth of 6 in handicap hurdle here (15.8f, good to soft) 63 days ago, fading from last flight. Can build on it here.

Form: 35/563-4

Our Bill's Aunt^t⁶²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-6| J: Toby McCain-Mitchell⁽⁵⁾| T: A M Hales| OR: 112| D

25/1

Signed off last term with 2m4f victory at Wetherby in February but off 9 months before coming in a remote fourth in 2m4f Leicester handicap 62 days ago. Needs to take a major step forward.

Form: 33121-4

Sallyville Lady⁴⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 111

10/3

Irish point winner who has shown some promise when placed in a pair of novice hurdles at Warwick and Uttoxeter this winter, second of 5 in 22f event on latter occasion. Goes into handicaps on a handy-looking mark so she's a player for top yard.

Form: 1-32

Hard Dealt⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: David Bass| T: H D Daly| OR: 108

4/1

Irish point winner who has made an encouraging start to her Rules career, landing 2½m Worcester novice last spring. Good second of 7 in 2m4f Aintree handicap on Boxing Day too so must enter calculations.

Form: 42-1622

Hellfire Princess^p⁷⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: C O'Farrell| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 103

7/2

Back to form with a bang to win Ffos Las mares' handicap (2¾m, soft) in November, albeit very much suited by the way that developed. A 6 lb rise might leave her vulnerable here though.

Form: 61/24-01

Victoria Milano^t¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: Craig Nichol| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 103| CD

16/1

Dual 2m/2m5f hurdles winner in 2023/24 for Alastair Ralph. Generally below par last season though and again for his new yard on back of a wind op in 2m5f Haydock handicap 18 days ago. Others are more appealing all the same.

Form: 62643-F

Forecasts

Masked Dance (7/2), Hellfire Princess (4/1), Sallyville Lady (5/1), Hard Dealt (5/1), Pismo Beach (10/1), Dramatic Encore (10/1), Magical Maggie (10/1), Victoria Milano (12/1), Greyval (20/1), Notnowlinda (25/1), Our Bill's Aunt (25/1)

A case can be made for lots of these but Dan Skelton's SALLYVILLE LADY looks to have got in quite lightly for her handicap bow so edges the vote from C&D scorer Masked Dance. In-form pair Hard Dealt and Pismo Beach can also have a say, while Magical Maggie completes the shortlist.