December 10 / 12.20 Doncaster

12.20

Good

bet365 Mares’ Handicap Hurdle (Go North Lady Buttons Series Qualifier)

  • Prize money: £4683.56
  • 3m 0f 84y
  • Class 4
  • 9 runners
SKY
View Course
bet365 Mares’ Handicap Hurdle (Go North Lady Buttons Series Qualifier)

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

Form: 215-43 D

Last run: 194 days

W: 12st 0lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Won two novice hurdles early this year (2m4f/3m, good) and bumped into an improving winner when 14l third in Cartmel handicap (3m1f, good) in May when last seen; could do with jumping better on this return but no surprise if she has a part to play for her top northern yard.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

19

3rd May 2025

Yielding

2m 0f 0y

18:35 Punchestown

Nora The Xplorer

11st 9lb

T: M Mullineaux

Peak hurdles rating would give her a chance if she could translate it to the Flat; absence to overcome; new yard.

33/1

4th

19

3rd May 2025

Yielding

2m 0f 0y

18:35 Punchestown

Nora The Xplorer

11st 9lb

T: M Mullineaux

Peak hurdles rating would give her a chance if she could translate it to the Flat; absence to overcome; new yard.

33/1

9th

5

28th Jun 2024

Good

2m 7f 32y

Class 5

21:00 Bangor-on-Dee

Nora The Xplorer

11st 12lb

J: Tristan Durrell

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Well beaten on last month's stable debut; that run came after an 11-month absence, she's on a tempting mark and conditions will be preferable; effective in the reapplied blinkers.

8/1

OUR TIP

Form: 32-611

Last run: 16 days

W: 11st 13lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
Following a break she has shown improved form this autumn, with wins under Conor Rabbitt at Wetherby (2m5f, good to soft) and Kelso (2m6f, soft); has shown promise on good ground; there's every chance she'll stay this far and this improving 7yo could play a leading role once more.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

6

25th Nov 2023

Good To Soft

2m 7f 118y

Class 3

14:40 Ascot

Miss Milano

11st 3lb

J: Conor Rabbitt

T: Nicky Richards

held up in rear, pulled up before 7th

9/2

4th

4

18th Oct 2023

Good

3m 0f 26y

Class 4

16:40 Wetherby

Miss Milano

11st 10lb

J: Conor Rabbitt

T: Nicky Richards

Fourth off this mark at Perth last time (3m2f, good to soft) having won her three previous races at up to 3m; perhaps high in the weights now but could feature.

6/1

1

16th Jun 2023

Good

3m 0f 149y

Class 4

20:45 Aintree

Miss Milano

12st 0lb

J: Conor Rabbitt

T: Nicky Richards

Fourth off this mark at Perth last time (3m2f, good to soft) having won her three previous races at up to 3m; not out of it.

Form: 4412-4

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 13lb

5 yo Mare

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
A win (1m7f, good to soft) and a solid second (2m, good) in March from her first two handicaps and she reappeared with a fair fourth at Newcastle (2m4f, good) last month; this lightly raced 3m point winner may have more to offer now upped further in trip and she's one to consider.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

28th May 2023

Good To Firm

3m 1f 170y

Class 4

16:05 Kelso

Rae Des Champs

12st 0lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Rose Dobbin

in touch with leaders

9/4

4

17th May 2023

Soft

2m 7f 207y

Class 4

19:30 Perth

Rae Des Champs

11st 1lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Rose Dobbin

4th

4

16th May 2023

Good

2m 7f 149y

Class 4

16:00 Newcastle

Rae Des Champs

11st 11lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Rose Dobbin

Yet to make any significant further progress since her winning handicap debut in March 2022 but ran well in defeat at Kelso (2m2f, good) last month, after a break, and is still quite lightly raced; tries a new trip here; good chance.

7/2

Form: 3614-1

Last run: 23 days

W: 11st 12lb

5 yo Mare

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Bumper (2m, good) and maiden hurdle (2m5f, heavy) winner who was back on the scoresheet when upped in trip for her handicap/seasonal debut at Market Rasen (2m7f, soft) last month; she's 6lb higher in this deeper race but won in good style and is unexposed over staying distances.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

19th May 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 63y

Class 5

17:50 Hexham

Shighness

12st 0lb

J: Joshua Thompson

T: Micky Hammond

Hasn't won for a couple of years and that was over fences, but she shaped encouragingly reverting to hurdles when third at Sedgefield (3m3f, soft) in February, albeit beaten nearly 19l, and has fallen back over fences since; however, she's on a handy mark and is hard to dismiss.

15/2

7

25th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 7f 199y

Class 4

15:41 Hexham

Shighness

11st 3lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Micky Hammond

She's struggled to get competitive since finishing a close second in this last year (good to soft) but is 7lb lower this time around and didn't run badly over hurdles at Sedgefield (3m3f, soft) last month; not written off.

10/1

Form: 14113- CD

Last run: 279 days

W: 11st 10lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Won three times from five starts last season for Stuart Edmunds, including this race (good to soft) on her reappearance; makes debut for Lucy Wadham today (remains in same ownership) and could continue to progress.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

29th Feb 2024

Soft

2m 7f 171y

Class 3

16:15 Ludlow

Midnight Mary

11st 5lb

J: Bryony Frost

T: Lucy Wadham

Likeable mare with a consistent profile but her only chase win came off a 12lb lower mark and she's gone up 5lb for performing above herself in the face of a stiff task in a Listed race for mares last time (2m4f; fine at 3m and on soft); possibly flattered by that and opposable off current mark.

7/1

Abandoned

Form: 36478-

Last run: 238 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Won a maiden hurdle at Newcastle (2m4f, good) last November and she's better than she's shown in her three handicaps; however, having been well beaten in such races on her final two starts last season she returns with something to prove, including stamina.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

9

7th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 3f 85y

Class 5

11:37 Wetherby

Fiadh

10st 5lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Chris Grant

prominent, pressed leader 4 out, led narrowly and going best 3 out, good jump 2 out, ridden clear before last, kept on run-in, always doing enough

6/1

Form: -6353F

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 2lb

8 yo Mare

OR: 97

Form & Verdict
Runs off a mark 5lb lower than when winning over fences at Worcester in September 2021; however, that's her sole rules win from 18 attempts and she needs to improve upon this autumn's hurdling form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

11th May 2023

Good

3m 1f 10y

Class 5

15:25 Huntingdon

Makety

11st 12lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Oliver Sherwood

0-15 over hurdles and most compelling form came over 2m in 2019 and 2020; hard to warm to, having not lasted out upped to 3m latest.

40/1

2

27th Apr 2023

Good

2m 7f 198y

Class 5

19:00 Taunton

Makety

11st 10lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Oliver Sherwood

Chase winner in September 2021 but she's 0-14 as a hurdler; on reduced mark but she was a well-held sixth of seven at Hereford (2m5f, good) in February and it is not hard to have reservations after another break.

16/1

6th

2

15th Feb 2023

Good

2m 5f 163y

Class 5

15:35 Hereford

Makety

11st 13lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Oliver Sherwood

Chase winner in September 2021 but 0-13 as a hurdler; placed five times but fell on her latest start three months ago; reservations for now.

13/2

Form: 140-P

Last run: 25 days

W: 10st 12lb

5 yo Mare

OR: 93

Form & Verdict
Her form has gone the wrong way across her three hurdle starts (2m-2m3f) and she was pulled up last time; however, she won her sole bumper and it could be that staying is her game; not ruled out on handicap debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

16th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

14:30 Ffos Las

Hellfire Princess

12st 0lb

J: Benjamin Macey

T: Kerry Lee

Posted career-best performance when coming from off the pace to score by 6l here (2m6f, soft) in November but returned from break with two lesser efforts last month (2m5f/3m1f) and now has a point to prove; usual cheekpieces (left off last time) back on today.

7/1

4th

2

16th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 0y

Class 5

16:40 Carlisle

Hellfire Princess

11st 13lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Kerry Lee

9yo who is lightly raced for her age and won at Ffos Las (2m6f, soft) in November on second run back from break; not seen to same effect at Ludlow (2m5f, soft) 12 days ago but she's better than that; not ruled out.

16/1

6th

10

4th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 5f 55y

Class 4

15:33 Ludlow

Hellfire Princess

10st 11lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Kerry Lee

Lightly raced over last couple of years but bounced back to form at Ffos Las (2m6f, soft) in November, staying on well to win by 6l; subsequent 6lb rise may not be beyond her if the emphasis is on stamina again.

7/1

Form: 2257-2

Last run: 25 days

W: 10st 8lb

5 yo Mare

OR: 89

Form & Verdict
0-8 but she went close on her reappearance at Fakenham (2m7f, good to soft) last month, following wind surgery; also effective on good ground and can again be in the mix for last year's winning yard.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

10

17th Oct 2023

Good

2m 7f 129y

Class 5

15:13 Huntingdon

Doireann

10st 9lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Stuart Edmunds

Maiden with placed form over hurdles; below par when last seen in early summer and she jumped moderately on her previous chase start; more new headgear tried.

20/1

11th

6

6th May 2023

Good

2m 7f 70y

Class 5

15:50 Uttoxeter

Doireann

11st 6lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Stuart Edmunds

Runner-up twice over this trip at Fakenham last season, losing out only by a short head off today's mark in first-time cheekpieces on latter occasion; below form on recent outings, though, and needs today's headgear switch to give her a boost.

14/1

5th

6

30th Mar 2023

Good To Soft

3m 2f 0y

Class 5

15:00 Warwick

Doireann

11st 0lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Stuart Edmunds

Runner-up here once last term; now a 12-race maiden under rules, with two close seconds at Fakenham (2m7f, good/good to soft) as this season's easily best efforts; pulled up on chase debut 13 days ago; this trip looks worth a go and there are no ground worries but she's been inconsistent.

14/1

Non-runners

Midnight Mary

Verdict

Midnight Mary won this last year for Stuart Edmunds and is respected on her first outing for Lucy Wadham, but preference is for the Edmunds-trained DOIREANN who reappeared with a good second at Fakenham last month. Miss Milano and Shighness arrive following recent wins and could also be involved.[Ben Hutton]

Selections

TOPSPEED:

Rae Des Champs

Telegraph:

Miss Milano

SPOTLIGHT:

Doireann

The Guardian:

Shighness

RP Ratings:

Nora The Xplorer

Daily Mirror:

Miss Milano

Daily Record:

Miss Milano

POSTDATA:

Doireann

The Sun:

Doireann

The Times:

Rae Des Champs

Daily Mail:

Rae Des Champs

The Star:

Rae Des Champs

D Express:

Shighness