Catertech North East Ltd Mares' Handicap Hurdle

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Theo Gillard| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 99| D

Sold cheaply after winning a bumper/2½m maiden hurdle for Nicky Henderson last season. Hasn't revived in 3 starts for present yard, latterly in another change of headgear at Chepstow (2m) last month. Hopes now pinned on a step back up in trip.

Form: 21P-4F5

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Leave Her To Me³⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Kielan Woods| T: D Killahena & G McPherson| OR: 95| D

4/1

Completed a mares handicap double during spring 2025. Lightly raced and largely disappointing since, though she did step up on back of a breathing operation when second at Stratford in September. Jumping let her down when disappointing at Market Rasen last time but her mark is easing at least.

Form: 59P-627

Stellarmasterpiece^p³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Joshua Thompson⁽⁵⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 94| BF

3/1

Completed a hurdles hat-trick at Stratford this summer before bringing up a cross-code 4-timer on the Flat at Catterick (1½m). Very good second here next time and shaped as though the return to this longer trip would suit when fourth back at Stratford (19f) latest. Definite possibilities.

Form: 5-11124

Midnight Bella¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Danny McMenamin| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 91

5/4

Finished second in a race that worked out well on handicap debut at Newcastle (2½m) in March. Didn't get a chance to show what she could do following breathing operation/8 months off when unseating in novice here 10 days ago and this low-mileage mare looks well worthy of another chance.

Form: 80692-U

Khaleesi Queen^h²⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Sean Quinlan| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 86

11/1

Well beaten both starts in bumpers but did at least show more than on hurdles debut when fifth in a Newcastle novice (2½m) in March, noted doing her best work at the finish. Below that level on qualifying run at Wetherby later that month but handicaps more suitable returning over this longer trip.

Form: 09955-

Strathcatcha²¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: Dominic Hislop⁽⁷⁾| T: Gary Rutherford| OR: 71

18/1

Big prices and showed little in qualifying hurdle runs but she did at least show first form from miles out of the weights when second of 4 on handicap debut at Newcastle (3m) in April. However, that was a thin race and she'll need to raise her game to feature after 7 months off.

Form: 777PP2-

Forecasts

Stellarmasterpiece (13/8), Midnight Bella (15/8), Strathcatcha (4/1), Eremenko (12/1), Leave Her To Me (12/1), Khaleesi Queen (25/1)

Having finished second in a race that worked out well at Newcastle in the spring, MIDNIGHT BELLA didn't get the chance to show what she could do following a breathing operation/8 months off when unseating mid-race in a course novice 10 days ago. A low-mileage mare, she's well worth another chance back in a handicap over this slightly longer trip. Stellarmasterpiece has enjoyed a highly productive 2026 under both codes and is fancied to play a lead role once more.