Plan A Conditional Jockeys' Mares' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:30 | Winning time: 5m 39.03s

Hellfire Princess^p²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Benjamin Macey| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 100| C| D

4/1

Back to form with a bang when taking a mares handicap here (2¾m, soft) in November. However, she was suited by the way that developed that day and hasn't made much of an impact in 2 subsequent appearances. Cheekpieces refitted.

Form: 24-0164

Man Maid¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-13| J: Callum Pritchard| T: H Dickin| OR: 99

9/1

Massive prices in maiden/novice hurdles and, though shorter in the betting for recent handicap bow at Wincanton (15.2f, soft), she didn't look likely to go on to score when unseating rider 3 out there. Yard saddles a more appealing candidate in Rest Is The Best.

Form: 744U

Queen Of Steel^p²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Fern O'Brien⁽³⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 93| BF| CD

5/2

Returned to form when bagging a handicap hurdle at Leicester over this trip in January. Backed that up when going down narrowly at Southwell (3m) next time and while a 4 lb rise for that will makes things tougher, last year's winner should have a part to play.

Form: 11-5312

Rest Is The Best^p²³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Murray Dodd⁽³⁾| T: H Dickin| OR: 84

5/2

No show in novice company but has improved upped to 19.4f in Chepstow handicaps the last twice, latterly doing well to finish as close as she did under the circumstances. The first-time cheekpieces she sported that day are retained and a bold show is very much on the cards.

Form: 07642

Neeps And Tatties^h⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Finn Lambert| T: R T Phillips| OR: 84

10/1

Showed more than previously over hurdles when fourth in a Huntingdon handicap last month. However, she failed to improve for the step up to 19.7f when down the field at Hereford recently.

Form: 4-50747

Half Pint Daisy²³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Ned Fox| T: C Boultbee-Brooks| OR: 72

11/2

Yet to trouble the judge and while her latest Chepstow sixth was at least respectable, she came home around 16 lengths adrift of the second-placed Rest Is The Best, so there is clearly work to be done.

Form: 40886

Forecasts

Queen Of Steel (5/2), Rest Is The Best (5/2), Hellfire Princess (4/1), Half Pint Daisy (11/2), Man Maid (9/1), Neeps And Tatties (10/1)

Though there's still room for improvement in the jumping department, REST IS THE BEST has improved switched to handicaps at Chepstow on her last 2 starts and is taken to get her head in front this time. Last year's winner Queen of Steel is the clear main danger, given that Hellfire Princess needs to bounce back following a couple of low-key efforts.