quinnbet.com Mares' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:10 | Winning time: 4m 43.87s

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Ip Up³²

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Craig Nichol| T: Jedd O'Keeffe| OR: 115| BF| D

2/1

Fair hurdler/chaser in France who struck for this yard over 2m at Fakenham in November. Late blunders didn't aid her cause when chasing Atlantic Dancer home at Kelso (2¼m, heavy) last time but that was still a creditable effort and she now meets that rival on 8 lb better terms.

Form: 2-53132

Golden Glance^t³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Henry Brooke| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 115

11/8

Maiden winner at Haydock last spring and stepped up on her reappearance display when hitting the crossbar upped to 2½m in a first-time tongue strap at Aintree (heavy). 5 lb rise fair given that she pulled well clear of the third and another bold show likely.

Form: 4217-72

Atlantic Dancer³²

Age: 11| Weight: 11-9| J: Bruce Lynn⁽³⁾| T: N W Alexander| OR: 110

3/1

In good form last spring, bagging handicaps at Uttoxeter and Kelso. Looked better than ever when proving 10 lengths too good for Ip Up back at the latter course during the Christmas period but this 8 lb higher mark could prove to be a stumbling block.

Form: 7121-61

Rory's Story^h²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: J Kington| T: T Davidson| OR: 86

12/1

Showed ability in bumpers but she's failed to land a blow in 4 starts over hurdles, including on handicap bow at Ayr last time.

Form: 53479P

Forecasts

Golden Glance (11/8), Ip Up (2/1), Atlantic Dancer (3/1), Rory's Story (12/1)

IP UP couldn't cope with Atlantic Dancer at Kelso but an 8 lb pull, combined with this drop back in trip and forecast better ground, could help tilt the scales in her favour this time. Atlantic Dancer will of course be dangerous if again allowed a soft lead but a bigger threat on this occasion may be posed by Golden Glance, who put in a good shift when runner-up at Aintree last month and she probably has more to offer.