March 20 / 14.45 Taunton

14.45

Good To Soft

Royal Bath & West Show Mares’ Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £4224.8
  • 2m 7f 198y
  • Class 5
  • 8 runners
RTV
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Royal Bath & West Show Mares’ Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

12/1 (Won)

  • Win: £7.00
  • Place: £2.20

Form: 6472P4

Last run: 38 days

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 93

Form & Verdict
Went very close on handicap debut at Uttoxeter (2m4f, good) in December but well below that form twice since (albeit with heavy ground a plausible excuse on first occasion); needs to up her game here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

24th Apr 2024

Good

2m 7f 198y

Class 5

17:15 Taunton

Spitfire Girl

11st 10lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Jamie Snowden

Has lost her way since winning over C&D last March but she's back to a similar mark now and her latest run here on ground softer than ideal was a step back in the right direction; considered.

12/1

4

24th Apr 2024

Good

2m 7f 198y

Class 5

17:15 Taunton

Spitfire Girl

11st 10lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Jamie Snowden

Has lost her way since winning over C&D last March but she's back to a similar mark now and her latest run here on ground softer than ideal was a step back in the right direction; considered.

12/1

5th

2

26th Mar 2024

Good To Soft

2m 7f 198y

Class 5

15:20 Taunton

Spitfire Girl

11st 9lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Jamie Snowden

Quickly lost her way after finishing first (subsequently demoted to second) on seasonal/chase debut in October and again struggled when reverted to hurdling last month; now only 2lb higher than when winning this race a year ago (good to soft) but it takes a leap of faith to support her.

10/1

Form: 5-3247

Last run: 18 days

W: 12st 0lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Made the frame on first two hurdling starts (2m3f/2m6f; both on good ground in October) but safely held in first two handicaps, latterly when seventh of nine over C&D (good) this month; needs a boost from the first-time blinkers today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

20th Mar 2023

Good To Soft

2m 7f 198y

Class 5

14:45 Taunton

Fancy Your Chances

12st 0lb

J: Elizabeth Gale

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Made the frame on first two hurdling starts (2m3f/2m6f; both on good ground in October) but safely held in first two handicaps, latterly when seventh of nine over C&D (good) this month; needs a boost from the first-time blinkers today.

9/1

7th

3

2nd Mar 2023

Good

2m 7f 198y

Class 4

15:25 Taunton

Fancy Your Chances

11st 11lb

J: Micheal Nolan

T: Philip Hobbs

midfield, barged by rival after 4 out, pushed along and outpaced after 3 out, ridden and no impression before 2 out

5/1

4th

6

10th Jan 2023

Heavy

2m 7f 25y

Class 4

13:00 Exeter

Fancy Your Chances

11st 2lb

J: Jack Martin

T: Philip Hobbs

in touch with leaders on inner

7/2

11/2

  • Place: £1.30

Form: 4632

Last run: 29 days

W: 12st 0lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Won on Irish point debut in October (yielding) and was evidently suited by the step up to 3m under rules when creditable second on last month's handicap debut at Newbury (good to firm); competes off same mark here and remains unexposed; can't be ignored.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

30th Aug 2025

Good

3m 1f 170y

Class 5

17:05 Newton Abbot

My Girl Katie

12st 0lb

J: Conor Ring

T: Grace Harris

Beat Testlight here in July but not in their rematch; bounced off the fast ground when winning well at Stratford 12 days ago to earn this 8lb higher mark; had some soft-ground form back in the day.

13/8

5

18th Aug 2025

Good To Firm

3m 3f 119y

Class 5

17:00 Stratford

My Girl Katie

10st 8lb

J: Conor Ring

T: Grace Harris

Dual point winner this spring; well beaten over hurdles on rules return in June but won comfortably when back over fences at Newton Abbot (3m2f, good) last month and ran well in defeat over that C&D a fortnight later; likely contender again.

9/4

OUR TIP

Form: -32F33

Last run: 15 days

W: 12st 1lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Placed on four of five appearances this season (fell on other occasion), most recently when staying-on third at Ffos Las (2m4f, good) a fortnight ago; ought to be suited by today's return to 3m and stable conditional Harry Atkins takes off 10lb today; must be considered.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

5

18th Jul 2024

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

17:40 Worcester

Brianna Rose

11st 8lb

J: James Best

T: Martin Keighley

Bounced back to form with clearcut win at Hereford (3m1f, good to soft) in April and was placed off today's mark there the following month but her subsequent hurdle run was underwhelming and she needs to be perked up by a change of headgear.

6/1

7th

8

15th Jun 2024

Good

2m 7f 70y

Class 4

20:15 Uttoxeter

Brianna Rose

11st 7lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Martin Keighley

Won in good style over fences at Hereford (3m1f, good to soft) in April, after a break, but was not quite in the same form over that C&D last month and would prefer the rain to stay away before this hurdling return.

10/1

3rd

6

13th May 2024

Good

3m 1f 44y

Class 4

15:35 Hereford

Brianna Rose

11st 7lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Martin Keighley

Suffered significant dip in form last season but returned from ten-week break with 5l win over C&D (good to soft) last month and remains well handicapped after a 3lb rise; will have something to prove if the ground turns soft but, otherwise, has strong claims.

7/2

Form: 67F-P1

Last run: 15 days

W: 11st 7lb

8 yo Mare

OR: 98

Form & Verdict
Failed to complete her first two handicaps but displayed sudden jolt of improvement to cause 20-1 surprise at Ffos Las (2m4f, good) a fortnight ago; 8lb higher here but could easily have more to offer over the longer trip; good chance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

24th Apr 2024

Good

2m 3f 1y

Class 4

18:25 Taunton

Atjima

10st 8lb

J: Alan Johns

T: Victor Dartnall

Has lost her way since last March's Ffos Las win on good ground off this mark; hasn't had those conditions since but she was reluctant to line up on her reappearance and then pulled up next time.

25/1

9

24th Apr 2024

Good

2m 3f 1y

Class 4

18:25 Taunton

Atjima

10st 8lb

J: Alan Johns

T: Victor Dartnall

Has lost her way since last March's Ffos Las win on good ground off this mark; hasn't had those conditions since but she was reluctant to line up on her reappearance and then pulled up next time.

25/1

3

14th Feb 2024

Good To Soft

2m 5f 163y

Class 5

16:00 Hereford

Atjima

11st 7lb

J: Alan Johns

T: Victor Dartnall

Surprise winner at Ffos Las (2m4f, good) in March but hasn't threatened to win again and she was reluctant to line up when tailed off after a break at Taunton.

16/1

Form: 7UP854

Last run: 22 days

W: 10st 2lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 69

Form & Verdict
Made fairly encouraging handicap debut when fifth of 15 at Exeter (2m5f, heavy) in January but last month's Hereford run was a backward step and she's further out of the weights here; improvement needed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

8

17th Apr 2026

Good To Firm

2m 7f 25y

Class 5

18:10 Exeter

Elfride

10st 2lb

J: Harry Atkins

T: Richard Phillips

2m7f hurdle winner (good to soft); on a lengthy losing run and arrives with plenty to prove from 4lb wrong.

33/1

18

17th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 25y

Class 5

14:20 Exeter

Elfride

10st 2lb

J: Harry Atkins

T: Richard Phillips

Struggled last year and competes from 6lb out of the handicap today; needs January's wind op to have made a big difference.

66/1

8

4th Jun 2025

Good

3m 2f 105y

Class 5

15:35 Newton Abbot

Elfride

10st 3lb

J: Harry Atkins

T: Richard Phillips

2m7f hurdle winner (good to soft) in May 2023; well below par on her last five starts; blinkers now accompany tongue-tie; back on her winning mark but plenty to prove.

16/1

Form: 15U452 D

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 2lb

10 yo Mare

OR: 93

Form & Verdict
Much more exposed than some of these mares but was second of 11 over C&D (good) when returned to 3m last month and is probably still on a workable mark after a recent 1lb nudge up the weights.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

6

8th Mar 2025

Good

3m 1f 119y

Class 5

13:30 Hereford

Kentford Mallard

11st 2lb

J: Oscar Palmer

T: Seamus Mullins

Wants better ground than when second at Sandown (2m, soft), so that was a fair run over a trip too short for all that the race fell apart at the seams; back off her correct mark here and returned to 3m, she's one to consider.

11/2

2nd

7

24th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

1m 7f 216y

Class 4

13:50 Sandown

Kentford Mallard

10st 2lb

J: Capt Isabel Harrison

T: Seamus Mullins

held up in rear, not fluent 4th, not fluent 4 out, steady headway after 3 out, went modest second after 2 out, mistake last, kept on but no match for winner

40/1

2nd

7

24th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

1m 7f 216y

Class 4

13:50 Sandown

Kentford Mallard

10st 2lb

J: Capt Isabel Harrison

T: Seamus Mullins

held up in rear, not fluent 4th, not fluent 4 out, steady headway after 3 out, went modest second after 2 out, mistake last, kept on but no match for winner

40/1

Form: 545-6

Last run: 49 days

W: 10st 10lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Made low-key handicap debut when sixth of seven at Huntingdon (2m4f, good) in January but that was her first run since November 2021 and there is good evidence to suggest today's step up to 3m will suit; can get much closer to the target today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

8

1st May 2023

Good

3m 1f 0y

Class 5

15:12 Warwick

Shes So Lovely

10st 13lb

J: Bridget Andrews

T: Dan Skelton

held up in rear, headway 3 out, switched right before 2 out, challenging last, ridden and ran on to lead towards finish

11/2

5th

8

15th Apr 2023

Soft

2m 7f 131y

Class 4

14:35 Chepstow

Shes So Lovely

10st 4lb

J: Bridget Andrews

T: Dan Skelton

held up in rear

15/2

8th

7

20th Mar 2023

Good To Soft

2m 7f 198y

Class 5

14:45 Taunton

Shes So Lovely

10st 10lb

J: Bridget Andrews

T: Dan Skelton

Made low-key handicap debut when sixth of seven at Huntingdon (2m4f, good) in January but that was her first run since November 2021 and there is good evidence to suggest today's step up to 3m will suit; can get much closer to the target today.

5/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £110.60
Straight Forecast £109.05
Tricast £441.77
Trifecta £737.30

Selections

The Times:

My Girl Katie

WEST COUNTRY:

Atjima

RP Ratings:

Brianna Rose

SPOTLIGHT:

She's So Lovely

The Guardian:

Kentford Mallard

Daily Mail:

My Girl Katie

Daily Mirror:

My Girl Katie

The Sun:

My Girl Katie

Daily Record:

My Girl Katie

POSTDATA:

Brianna Rose

Telegraph:

Atjima

D Express:

Atjima

The Star:

Atjima