Virgin Bet Mares' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:45 | Winning time: 4m 43.75s

Hope Rising²⁰⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 116

4/1

Three-time winner finished ahead of a next-time-out scorer when runner-up off this mark at Newton Abbot (17f) in September, though blotted her copybook when refusing to race at Chepstow the following month.

Form: 21212R-

Notnowlinda^p⁴⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 110

6/4

Showed herself to be right back to form when third of 7 at Uttoxeter last time (fifth a winner subsequently) and may well capitalise on her falling mark with Harry Skelton returning to the saddle.

Form: 22/0953-

Mermaids Cave^p³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: J J Burke| T: James Owen| OR: 109| BF| CD

9/4

Has won twice at this track since joining James Owen, and while it's been a hit-and-miss season, she wasn't disgraced when a well-backed fifth of 7 at Fakenham last time.

Form: 9F82P5-

Mary^t¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: C J Todd| T: Ian Williams| OR: 109

8/1

Ended a losing run when making all at Warwick in September. Respectable return at Stratford presumably a pipe-opener given contrasting tactics, and she's expected to make more impact here.

Form: 0/35145-

No No Fizz⁴⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Tom Broughton⁽⁵⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 107| CD

18/1

Resumed winning ways down in grade when making all in a C&D handicap in March but underlined her inconsistency when well beaten at Uttoxeter subsequently.

Form: 4/3981P-

Forecasts

Notnowlinda (6/4), Mermaids Cave (9/4), Hope Rising (4/1), Mary (8/1), No No Fizz (18/1)

NOTNOWLINDA looks to be building up to something and is fancied to take advantage of a handy mark. Mary is entitled to step forward from her return at Stratford, and she can fight it out for the places with two-time course winner Mermaids Cave.