Cartmel Sticky Toffee Pudding EBF Mares' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:00 | Winning time: 4m 10.91s

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Selected odds by:

D Day Arvalenreeva⁵²

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: J M Quinlan| T: K P De Foy| OR: 115| D

6/4

Fair on the Flat and has progressed with each start over hurdles, making light of a 7 lb penalty to land the double in a Ludlow handicap (15.8f) 52 days ago. Thriving sort is now 2-2 in handicaps and remains open to further improvement upped in grade.

Form: 4311-

Lahinch Wave^h²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-13| J: R P McLernon| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 114| BF

10/3

Placed in Irish point in 2022 prior to making all on hurdling debut at Worcester (20f) last September. Not seen to best effect in first time hood (retained) after 8 months off when held up at Fontwell (21.8f) last time. Likely to be ridden more positively back down in trip and she's not ruled out.

Form: 3/13-

Jolie Coeur Allen^h⁴⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Jack Hogan| T: B Haslam| OR: 110

33/1

Fair maiden hurdler in Ireland for Willie Mullins but offered little on hurdles debut for Ben Haslam prior to achieving little in 3 Flat maidens. Difficult make a case for unless the market hints at a revival.

Form: 2333/66-

Expelliarmus¹⁶²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: K Brogan| T: B Haslam| OR: 107

25/1

Fair maiden on Flat for Joseph O'Brien and ran her best race over hurdles on handicap debut with cheekpieces fitted (now removed) when seventh of 14 at Cork (16.2f) in December, not given a hard time once his chance had gone. May be open to improvement on debut for yard who are doubly represented.

Form: 374/7-

Spot On Soph^t²⁷³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: Jonathan England| T: S England| OR: 102

7/1

Strong in the market and suited by the step back up in trip when scoring comfortably over hurdles at Market Rasen (20.6f) in June. Finished last season with a disappointing run at this course and while the handicapper has given her chance on reappearance, her best form has come over further.

Form: 031459-

Bellbird^p³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 96

5/2

Off the mark in a Ludlow novice last May and has finished runner-up 3 times in handicaps since, latest when back to form under a good value claimer at Bangor (19.6f, soft) 30 days ago. She won't be inconvenienced by this sharper test and is on a fair mark. One to consider with Hughes back aboard.

Form: 226642-

Forecasts

D Day Arvalenreeva (6/4), Bellbird (5/2), Lahinch Wave (10/3), Spot On Soph (7/1), Expelliarmus (25/1), Jolie Coeur Allen (33/1)

BELLBIRD bounced back to form when third at Bangor last time and has already gone close in handicap company from this sort of mark. The return of Brian Hughes can see her land a second hurdles success at the expense of hat-trick seeking D Day Arvalenreeva who remains unexposed despite a hike in grade, with Lahinch Wave, likely to be ridden more positively down in trip, not discounted if able to dictate on the front end as she did on hurdles debut.