15:35 Taunton

Monday 9 January 2023

All12:5513:2513:5514:3015:0015:3516:10

Portman Cup Saturday 21st January Mares' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:35 | Winning time: 4m 19.15s

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Selected odds by:

Tintern Abbey⁵³

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Jay Tidball⁽⁷⁾| T: A Ralph| OR: 99| D

9/4

Bumper winner and bright start over hurdles, cementing positive start when fourth in 10-runner mares' maiden at Wincanton (15.2f) in November. One to consider with progress anticipated now handicapping.

Form: 3/219-34

Kentford Mallard^p⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-11| J: M G Nolan| T: J W Mullins| OR: 96

33/1

Held her form well in the spring/summer last year and overcame a few wayward leaps to score at Southwell (3m) in June. Swerved and unseated first on return at Exeter (18.5f) on New Year's Day and cheekpieces go back on now.

Form: 5-2415U

Fortune Cookie¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: David Noonan| T: Henry Oliver| OR: 95

14/1

Has yet to show much in handful of starts but can have latest yard debut effort at Hereford (21.7f) overlooked, all but coming down at the sixth and pulled up soon after. This should reveal more.

Form: 075-0P

Eventful^b⁵⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: J E Moore| T: J & S Best| OR: 94| D

15/2

Maiden on Flat but she was well supported when doubling her tally over hurdles (in refitted blinkers) at Southwell (15.8f) in November. Absent since but gone well after a break before and not out of things.

Form: 3167-61

Mrs Kinsella^t1³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Sean O'Briain⁽⁷⁾| T: Billy Aprahamian| OR: 93

80/1

Modest ex-Irish maiden hurdler who showed nothing returning from 8 months off for new yard at Fontwell (17.7f) in December. Eased 5 lb ahead of this and now equipped with a first-time tongue tie.

Form: 90400-0

Hello Bob⁴³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Danny Burton⁽⁵⁾| T: S Drinkwater| OR: 92| D

14/1

Uttoxeter winner back in summer 2020 who shaped as if retaining all ability after 18 months off when fifth at Ffos Las in May but has gone backwards from that in his 2 outings since.

Form: 314/564

Born To Please^p³⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: Harriet Tucker⁽⁷⁾| T: M D I Usher| OR: 86| D

10/1

Well beaten on each of her last 4 starts on the level but exploits over hurdles either side have been more like it, runner-up in a mares' handicap at Leicester (15.5f) 39 days ago. Needs to back that up now.

Form: 3/P672-2

Sawpit Sienna^p,t⁵⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: R T Dunne| T: S Drinkwater| OR: 85

8/1

Gained Second success at Fakenham (both 2½m) when seeing off 5 rivals in a mares' handicap in October. Came up short from inflated mark when fourth back at that venue last time but she's no forlorn hope in an open-looking handicap.

Form: 583-714

Never No Trouble^p⁵⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: Peter Kavanagh⁽⁵⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 91| BF

4/1

Placed 3 times from 9 appearances on the Flat for Adrian Nicholls and, in receipt of her handy weight-for-age allowance, she again ran well when second at Leicester (15.5f) in November. Well in the mix back from 56 days off.

Form: 4232

My Granny Lily^p1¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: Tom Buckley⁽³⁾| T: N J Hawke| OR: 71

4/1

Showed first form when third on handicap debut at Ludlow (21.2f) in November. Couldn't quite match that when fourth at Ffos Las (15.8f) 18 days ago but cheekpieces go on now and it does remain early days at least.

Form: 07-034

Lady Ironside^t1⁵⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: Miss Ella Herbison⁽⁷⁾| T: C J Gray| OR: 67

66/1

Fair maiden on Flat in Ireland but has yet to show any ability in this sphere, including on handicap debut at Exeter (21.6f) in November. Much more needed.

Form: F0889-0

Forecasts

Tintern Abbey (9/4), Never No Trouble (4/1), My Granny Lily (4/1), Eventful (15/2), Sawpit Sienna (8/1), Born To Please (10/1), Fortune Cookie (14/1), Hello Bob (14/1), Kentford Mallard (33/1), Lady Ironside (66/1), Mrs Kinsella (80/1)

NEVER NO TROUBLE again ran well when runner-up in a mares' handicap at Leicester in November and, again in receipt of her handy 4-y-o allowance, she could be the answer back from a short break. Handicap-debutante Tintern Abbey, Eventful and Sawpit Sienna head up the dangers, in that order.