Cecil & Sheila Buttifant Memorial Mares' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:23 | Winning time: 4m 1.71s

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Selected odds by:

Saisissante^p1,t²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: James Davies| T: Noel Williams| OR: 93| D

10/1

Landed juvenile hurdle at Ludlow (in blinkers) last season. Encouraging reappearance when third in Hereford handicap in November and despite disappointing in a couple of starts after, did take a step in the right direction at Market Rasen last month. Interesting with headgear now refitted.

Form: 13-3563

Milajess^b,t¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Joshua Thompson⁽⁷⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 88

15/2

Rewarded for her consistency when belatedly breaking her maiden at Sedgefield (16.8f) 18 days ago, winning decisively. Form has been franked (second and third won next time) but has been hit hard by handicapper. Should give another good account but revised mark makes life tougher,

Form: 452221

Graecia^h²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-5| J: Lily Pinchin| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 92

14/1

Fairly useful 7f winner on the Flat for John Butler and shaped with encouragement in a couple of her qualifying runs. Open to improvement on handicap hurdle debut.

Form: 4P3

Kenmya¹¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Kielan Woods| T: D Skelton| OR: 81

5/1

A fair 5-time winner on Flat in France/Spain (stays 10f) but achieved little in maiden/novice hurdles last year. In excellent hands and no surprise to see her show more on handicap debut following a break.

Form: 9568

Sawpit Sienna^t,v1¹⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-11| J: R T Dunne| T: S Drinkwater| OR: 76| C| D

13/2

Winner of a 16.5f handicap and Taunton in January 2024 but hasn't matched that form since. Did hint at a revival when runner-up in a 2m Ludlow handicap earlier this month. May yet be capable of capitalising on falling mark in first-time visor.

Form: 436532

Auntie Maggie⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: J J Burke| T: A Ralph| OR: 75

1/1

Lightly-raced mare bounced back to form (having been well supported) when second of 6 in handicap hurdle at Stratford (18.7f, good) 8 days ago, only headed near finish having made the running. Dropped 2 lb for that effort and looks set to run another big race.

Form: 3764P2

Hello Sweety^h1,t³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-8| J: Lee Edwards| T: S Edmunds| OR: 81

16/1

Placed on Flat in Poland first 3 starts but little impact for his current yard, including on handicap debut over a longer trip last month. Drops back to 2m and wears hood for first-time over hurdles. Improvement needed.

Form: 856P

Forecasts

Auntie Maggie (1/1), Kenmya (5/1), Sawpit Sienna (13/2), Milajess (15/2), Saisissante (10/1), Graecia (14/1), Hello Sweety (16/1)

AUNTIE MAGGIE was well backed when finishing an encouraging second at Stratford last month and makes most appeal racing from a 2 lb lower mark. Saisissante could be a threat if back to her best with headgear refitted, while Graecia and Kenmya may find improvement now handicapping, the latter one to note for market support.