February 29 / 15.40 Ludlow

15.40

Soft

George Rickards Birthday Mares’ Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £6337.2
  • 2m 7f 174y
  • Class 3
  • 8 runners
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George Rickards Birthday Mares’ Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

OUR TIP

2/1 (Won)

  • Win: £3.00
  • Place: £1.30

Form: -P3281 C

Last run: 22 days

W: 12st 0lb

6 yo Filly

OR: 125

Form & Verdict
Stays 3m so was positively ridden back over 2m5f here (soft) three weeks ago and kept rolling to collect by 8l; that warranted a 6lb rise and Cameron Iles claims 7lb; much respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

23rd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 3

15:40 Perth

Della Casa Lunga

11st 1lb

J: Ned Fox

T: Clive Boultbee-Brooks

Mainly in fair form this season and can be forgiven a below-par run on testing ground at Exeter last time; these conditions suit; each-way chance with cheekpieces back on.

13/2

3rd

3

20th Feb 2026

Heavy

3m 0f 54y

Class 1

15:14 Exeter

Della Casa Lunga

11st 0lb

J: Richard Patrick

T: Clive Boultbee-Brooks

Three front-running hurdle wins in 2024 (2m5f/3m, soft/good to soft) and she was running pretty well in defeat towards the end of 2025; 10l second of four at Carlisle 17 days ago on chase debut, showing she has some way to go before she's matching today's rivals over fences.

5/1

2nd

4

3rd Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 198y

Class 3

14:00 Carlisle

Della Casa Lunga

10st 12lb

J: Richard Patrick

T: Clive Boultbee-Brooks

Three front-running hurdle wins in 2024 (2m5f/3m, soft/good to soft) and she was running pretty well in defeat against fellow mares towards the end of 2025; receives 7lb from the males today and holds leading claims if taking to fences at the first attempt.

13/8

100/30

  • Place: £1.40

Form: 2-F143

Last run: 24 days

W: 10st 8lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Unraced over this far but strong in the finish when winning over 2m4f on heavy at Sandown in December, after which she ran fourth in a good novice handicap at Lingfield (2m3f; form franked since); couldn't land a blow at Carlisle but that was back over 2m1f; one to be very interested in.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

23rd Apr 2026

Good

2m 5f 5y

Class 2

15:30 Warwick

Pretending

11st 4lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Lucy Wadham

Third to Greyval 12 months ago off the same mark; hadn't been at her best this season but came good at Market Rasen (2m4f, soft) and clearly capable of having some say in the outcome.

6/1

1st

6

17th Feb 2026

2m 4f 139y

Class 4

15:02 Market Rasen

Pretending

11st 8lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Lucy Wadham

Exposed mare who hasn't been quite at her best this season, but is on a good mark (3lb lower than for last win); has an each-way chance.

14/1

4th

5

26th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 4f 116y

Class 3

14:50 Plumpton

Pretending

11st 3lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Lucy Wadham

Rather hit and miss since her last win (2m4f, good to soft) in October 2024 and she was pulled up at Fakenham eight days ago; back on her last winning mark but has a bit to prove at present.

12/1

11/2

  • Place: £1.70

Form: 1-2545

Last run: 37 days

W: 10st 11lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
Maiden winner who has threatened in a handicap and was just ahead of Holly Hartingo at Kempton two runs back; however, she didn't jump well enough at Newbury last month and not for the first time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

3

27th Jan 2025

Soft

3m 0f 217y

Class 4

15:20 Plumpton

Fortuna Ligna

11st 13lb

J: Chad Bament

T: Anthony Honeyball

Only the two wins to her name but she's consistent and finished a respectable 11l sixth of eight in a class 2 at Kempton from out of the weights over Christmas, ridden by Chad Bament who couldn't make use of his full claim; strong stayer who's worth considering, back in class.

9/2

Form: 6-4217 D

Last run: 37 days

W: 11st 3lb

9 yo Mare

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Second to an improver at Market Rasen (2m7f, good to soft) in November before winning convincingly at Doncaster (3m, good to soft); never got into it from off the pace at Newbury but she's better than that.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

5th Apr 2025

Good

2m 7f 131y

Class 4

14:50 Chepstow

Phillapa Sue

11st 13lb

J: Nick Slatter

T: David Killahena & Graeme McPherson

held up in rear, steady headway after 7th, raced in second when not fluent 3 out, lost position before 2 out, weakened before last

4/1

1

5th Apr 2025

Good

2m 7f 131y

Class 4

14:50 Chepstow

Phillapa Sue

11st 13lb

J: Nick Slatter

T: David Killahena & Graeme McPherson

Went close at Doncaster (3m, good to soft) in December and also ran well when fourth over C&D (soft) in February; current mark is workable but she was very disappointing on good ground last month and would appeal much more on a slower surface.

4/1

10th

8

9th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 5f 0y

Class 4

15:50 Warwick

Phillapa Sue

11st 7lb

J: Nick Slatter

T: David Killahena & Graeme McPherson

Not disgraced in two of her last three starts as when fourth of eight at Chepstow (3m, soft) four weeks ago, but this trip on drying ground may be an insufficient test for her now and she looks vulnerable to younger rivals.

14/1

Form: -U2168 D

Last run: 39 days

W: 11st 12lb

9 yo Mare

OR: 123

Form & Verdict
Won with nothing to spare at Ascot in November (2m7f, good) when also ridden by Charlie Case and just 1lb lower; her following effort was okay as well and it was quite a strong race in which she was found well wanting at Lingfield; in an ideal world she probably prefers quicker ground than this.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

27th Jan 2025

Soft

3m 0f 217y

Class 4

15:20 Plumpton

Midnightreflection

12st 1lb

J: Mr Charlie Case

T: Ben Case

10yo whose form had been in steady decline since winning an Ascot handicap off 11lb higher in November 2023, although recent efforts have been slightly more encouraging, including most recently when tried in blinkers (retained); undoubtedly on a good mark but still needs to find a little more.

6/1

1st

1

27th Jan 2025

Soft

3m 0f 217y

Class 4

15:20 Plumpton

Midnightreflection

12st 1lb

J: Mr Charlie Case

T: Ben Case

10yo whose form had been in steady decline since winning an Ascot handicap off 11lb higher in November 2023, although recent efforts have been slightly more encouraging, including most recently when tried in blinkers (retained); undoubtedly on a good mark but still needs to find a little more.

6/1

4th

1

17th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 16y

Class 4

14:00 Market Rasen

Midnightreflection

12st 1lb

J: Mr Charlie Case

T: Ben Case

towards rear, headway and in touch with leaders 8th

9/1

Form: 1-7357 C BF

Last run: 54 days

W: 11st 10lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 121

Form & Verdict
Third on handicap debut at Wincanton (2m5f, good to soft; first-time tongue-tie) but twice disappointing in the meantime raised to this sort of distance; now has a bit to prove with cheekpieces given a go.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

6

23rd Apr 2025

Good

2m 7f 180y

Class 1

15:18 Perth

Space Voyage

11st 0lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Has shown fairly useful form in handicaps at Market Rasen (won by 15l) and Wincanton (ran well under big weight) since wearing blinkers; may have more to offer in the retained blinds.

16/1

3rd

6

23rd Apr 2025

Good

2m 7f 180y

Class 1

15:18 Perth

Space Voyage

11st 0lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Has shown fairly useful form in handicaps at Market Rasen (won by 15l) and Wincanton (ran well under big weight) since wearing blinkers; may have more to offer in the retained blinds.

16/1

2nd

1

24th Mar 2025

Good

3m 1f 30y

Class 4

16:00 Wincanton

Space Voyage

12st 9lb

J: Beau Morgan

T: Olly Murphy

Four-time winner over hurdles who made it 2-4 over fences with a 15l success in first-time blinkers at Market Rasen (3m, good) eight days ago; Beau Morgan's claim partly offsets the 7lb penalty and she is a major player once again.

8/11

Form: 3-P35P C

Last run: 37 days

W: 11st 1lb

8 yo Mare

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
The winner of two non-handicaps, one of them here; having a quiet season with the exception of her Kempton fifth and cheekpieces are now called on.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

18th Apr 2026

Soft

3m 0f 70y

Class 2

14:55 Ayr

Holly Hartingo

10st 12lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Alastair Ralph

Front-runner who went close twice in a row at Kempton (3m, good) towards the end of last year following an absence; tailed off at Chepstow since on soft ground she should have handled; needs to bounce back, but not ruled out with first-time blinkers replacing cheekpieces.

10/1

3rd

1

13th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 131y

Class 3

15:10 Chepstow

Holly Hartingo

12st 0lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Alastair Ralph

20lb higher than for her last win (gained on soft) after going up a collective 8lb for near misses over 3m on good at Kempton; however, has returned from a lengthy break in top form and another bold show looks on the cards.

9/4

2nd

10

27th Dec 2024

Good

3m 0f 121y

Class 2

13:20 Kempton

Holly Hartingo

9st 12lb

T: Alastair Ralph

prominent, outpaced approaching last, kept on run-in, went second again final 110yds, no impression towards finish

10/1

Form: 8-2402

Last run: 28 days

W: 10st 13lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced; on her two visits here she's gone close in a bumper and finished fourth of 16 in a novice hurdle; blew out at Market Rasen but firmly back on track when pulling clear with a rejuvenated Nicholls mare at Wincanton (2m5f) and she promises to be well served by this longer trip now making handicap debut; unraced on worse than good to soft but it's unlikely to inconvenience.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

17th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 3f 179y

Class 4

15:45 Wincanton

Time In The Sun

11st 11lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Henry Daly

Has failed to complete in her two previous handicaps but the latest was at Ascot (2m3f, good; 28-1) and she was second in a 2m5f novice here earlier this year; wouldn't be too dismissive.

14/1

3rd

4

17th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 3f 179y

Class 4

15:45 Wincanton

Time In The Sun

11st 11lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Henry Daly

Has failed to complete in her two previous handicaps but the latest was at Ascot (2m3f, good; 28-1) and she was second in a 2m5f novice here earlier this year; wouldn't be too dismissive.

14/1

6

2nd Nov 2024

Good

2m 3f 58y

Class 4

12:55 Ascot

Time In The Sun

11st 4lb

J: Alice Stevens

T: Henry Daly

always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out

14/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £10.60
Straight Forecast £11.02
Tricast £28.90
Trifecta £35.40

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Della Casa Lunga

SPOTLIGHT:

Pretending

Daily Record:

Time In The Sun

WEST COUNTRY:

Fortuna Ligna

TOPSPEED:

Midnightreflection

POSTDATA:

Della Casa Lunga

The Times:

Della Casa Lunga

Telegraph:

Della Casa Lunga

The Guardian:

Della Casa Lunga

Daily Mail:

Della Casa Lunga

Daily Mirror:

Della Casa Lunga

The Sun:

Della Casa Lunga

The Star:

Della Casa Lunga

D Express:

Pretending