bet365 Mares' Hurdle (Listed) (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:50 | Winning time: 3m 42.1s

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Selected odds by:

Luccia²⁰⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: James Bowen| T: N J Henderson| OR: 149| D

4/9

Won the valuable Betfair Exchange Trophy (Handicap) at Ascot (2m) last Christmas and excellent efforts when reaching the frame in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham and the Aintree hurdle in the spring. Should prove hard to beat.

Form: 3/23134-

Carrigeen Kampala^t¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Jack Hogan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 124| D

40/1

Scored at Newton Abbot in June and tongue tied when an improved second of 8 in handicap hurdle at Plumpton (2m, good to soft) in September. Limitations seemingly exposed in Kempton listed race last time, though.

Form: 71FF26

Rhyme Scheme^t⁵⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: James Best| T: P Winks| OR: 72

300/1

Regressive on the Flat and poor form over hurdles. Huge outsider.

Form: 7-P4798

Royal Eagle¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: D J Gilligan| T: G Elliott| OR: 133| D

12/1

Useful hurdler who arrives on the back of a near miss in a listed event at Limerick a fortnight ago. Looked well suited by the step up in trip but she does have plenty of 2m form over hurdles, including third in a Galway handicap in July.

Form: 60-4302

Sweet Fantasy¹⁶²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: H Cobden| T: James Owen| OR: 130| D

9/1

Useful Flat performer who won a pair of 2m mares' novice hurdles earlier in the year. Should go well for a stable which operated at a 38% strike-rate over jumps last month.

Form: 11-

Take No Chances²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 137

7/2

Winner of back-to-back staying handicaps at Warwick and Uttoxeter during the spring. Back from a break with an excellent third of 17 in the Silver Trophy at Chepstow (19.5f) last month. Shorter trip now but could still be the one to give Luccia most to do.

Form: P21-143

Forecasts

Luccia (4/9), Take No Chances (7/2), Sweet Fantasy (9/1), Royal Eagle (12/1), Carrigeen Kampala (40/1), Rhyme Scheme (300/1)

LUCCIA sets a clear standard on her Grade 1 efforts in the spring and is likely to prove a tough nut to crack. The James Owen-trained Sweet Fantasy might be the one to give her most to do as the drop back to 2m may not be ideal for Royal Eagle and Take No Chances.