May 16 / 19.30 Aintree

19.30

Good

HA Civils Franny Blennerhassett Memorial Mares’ Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £3960.75
  • 2m 4f 0y
  • Class 4
  • 9 runners
RTV
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HA Civils Franny Blennerhassett Memorial Mares’ Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly sunny

OUR TIP

6/1 (Won)

  • Win: £4.50
  • Place: £1.70

Form: 72/66- D

Last run: 29 days

W: 12st 0lb

7 yo Filly

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced in recent years but returned from long layoff with two very respectable runs towards end of last season, latterly when sixth of 16 in valuable series final at Cheltenham (2m4f, good); in calmer waters here and needs to be taken very seriously.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

11th Oct 2025

Good

2m 7f 131y

Class 2

14:45 Chepstow

Ile De Jersey

11st 7lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

Looked a hard ride when runner-up on her return to fences at Cartmel (2m5f, good) but travelled better when winning comfortably on the step up to 3m1f at Warwick (good; 5lb lower); unexposed as a stayer.

4/1

4

23rd Sep 2025

Good

3m 1f 100y

Class 3

16:30 Warwick

Ile De Jersey

11st 1lb

J: James Bowen

T: Nicky Henderson

Useful hurdler/chaser when on song; returned to fences at Cartmel (2m5f, good) and did well to go down narrowly as she never moved with any purpose in that race; the ability is there to threaten again off her current mark; unraced over quite this far but it's worth a go.

7/2

2nd

4

25th Aug 2025

Good

2m 5f 34y

Class 3

16:43 Cartmel

Ile De Jersey

11st 13lb

J: James Bowen

T: Nicky Henderson

Won narrowly over hurdles at Aintree (2m4f, good; 7lb lower) and followed up back chasing at Worcester when left clear two out; wouldn't have been helped by so many flights being omitted when third of eight on return to hurdling last time; in good form.

13/2

3/1

  • Place: £1.50

Form: 930P-2 CD

Last run: 8 days

W: 11st 8lb

7 yo Filly

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
Has rather mixed record since clearcut success in this race a year ago (good ground) but kept on well for second at Huntingdon (2m3f, good) last week and remains on a good mark; high on the list.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

15th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

17:10 Aintree

Masked Dance

12st 0lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Mel Rowley

Won this two years ago and was only a short-head away last year; higher in the weights now but had been in career best form until last run which was in a strong handicap; has to be feared.

7/1

6th

8

15th Apr 2026

Good

2m 5f 50y

Class 2

15:15 Haydock

Masked Dance

10st 11lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Mel Rowley

Better than ever in her last three starts over 2m5f and 3m; highly likely to run another solid race but this is stronger than she's accustomed to.

12/1

2nd

1

26th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 174y

Class 3

14:42 Ludlow

Masked Dance

11st 13lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Mel Rowley

In career-best form this season, winning from the front here (2m5f, good to soft) in December before clear second to Magical Maggie over that trip here (soft) three weeks ago; will be on the premises again if suited by today's extra distance.

4/1

Form: 29265- D

Last run: 23 days

W: 12st 0lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Creditable second in Warwick Listed race (2m5f, soft) in February and should be fine on the quicker ground here but two lesser efforts in handicaps have followed and she needs a boost from the new cheekpieces.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

5

23rd Apr 2026

Good

3m 1f 100y

Class 2

15:00 Warwick

Sunday Soldier

11st 2lb

J: Nick Slatter

T: David Killahena & Graeme McPherson

Multiple hurdle winner who is 0-5 over fences and has a bit to find with some of these; she also has to rebound from a modest effort at Chepstow and her stamina isn't guaranteed.

33/1

8th

6

15th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 3f 100y

Class 3

15:55 Chepstow

Sunday Soldier

11st 2lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: David Killahena & Graeme McPherson

Five-time hurdle winner who was beaten under 7l at Lingfield (2m3f, soft) before running well on unfavourable terms in a Listed chase at Wincanton; should have a part to play off a realistic mark.

10/1

3rd

6

14th Feb 2026

1m 7f 149y

Class 1

13:05 Wincanton

Sunday Soldier

11st 2lb

J: Nick Slatter

T: David Killahena & Graeme McPherson

Five-time hurdle winner who is 0-4 over fences; ran respectably in a hurdle handicap at Lingfield (2m3f, soft) last month but this is a tough task on the figures and she fell over fences on her penultimate run; passed over.

16/1

Form: 24521-

Last run: 23 days

W: 11st 1lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Irish bumper winner who came good over hurdles at sixth attempt, keeping on well to beat 12 rivals at Ludlow (2m5f, good to soft) last month; moves up in grade today but will be suited by the quicker ground and might still have more to offer.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

8th Oct 2025

Good To Firm

2m 5f 55y

Class 4

16:08 Ludlow

Versace Twentyone

10st 12lb

J: Jamie Brace

T: Sheila Lewis

Came good over hurdles over C&D (good to soft) in April and ran well in defeat off today's mark at Stratford (2m2f, good) on latest outing in July; probably won't be far away.

11/2

2nd

2

20th Jul 2025

Good

2m 2f 148y

Class 5

14:08 Stratford

Versace Twentyone

11st 13lb

J: Jamie Brace

T: Sheila Lewis

Bumper winner for Gordon Elliott (2m, good); off the mark over hurdles in a 2m5f Ludlow novice handicap in April (good to soft) but has been a bit disappointing since.

8/1

4

7th Jun 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

17:55 Worcester

Versace Twentyone

11st 6lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Sheila Lewis

3l ahead of Rockola when obliging at Ludlow in April (2m5f, good to soft); last-time 15l Aintree fourth off 4lb higher represents her best ever form effort going left-handed, but needs more again here.

12/1

Form: 29256- D

Last run: 224 days

W: 11st 4lb

8 yo Mare

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Placed over hurdles and fences last summer; absent since below-par run in October but resumes on a workable mark and with conditions suitable; market may guide.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

6

1st May 2026

Good

3m 1f 100y

Class 4

18:50 Warwick

Police Academy

11st 8lb

J: Miss Ellie Callwood

T: Kelly Morgan

Unlucky to lose last June's Uttoxeter chase win (3m, good) on a medical technicality; wheels came off in the autumn but she has revived for current yard, keeping on well for Higham and High Easter open successes on good to firm; could prove the answer.

6/4

4

17th Oct 2025

Good

2m 5f 44y

Class 4

16:25 Fakenham

Police Academy

11st 2lb

J: Mr Ben Sutton

T: Fergal O’Brien

Unlucky to lose June's hard-fought Uttoxeter chase win (3m, good) off this mark, when an ovarian tumour removed a month later was found to have increased her testosterone levels; effectiveness at today's shorter trip is long proven and this looks an easier contest than the 0-120 last time.

11/8

Form: 66428- D

Last run: 29 days

W: 11st 7lb

9 yo Mare

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Runner-up off today's mark at Ludlow (2m5f, good to soft) in February and subsequent Cheltenham eighth (just behind Ile De Jersey) was perfectly respectable but she's not quite as good as she was and some of her younger rivals appeal more.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

1

21st Apr 2026

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

19:12 Ffos Las

Midnight Ginger

12st 0lb

J: Dillon Butler

T: Andrew J Martin

On a long losing run but she wasn't discredited on the back of wind surgery when fourth of six in 2m3f Warwick handicap 60 days ago; possibilities off a falling mark.

12/1

4th

3

20th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 3f 0y

Class 5

16:05 Warwick

Midnight Ginger

11st 11lb

J: Dillon Butler

T: Andrew J Martin

Runner-up at Ludlow last February and now 8lb lower; however, this 10yo has struggled to get competitive since; has had wind surgery since last time, which needs to make a big difference.

14/1

14/1

Form: 72314- D

Last run: 250 days

W: 11st 10lb

8 yo Mare

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Seven-time hurdle winner, most recently when clinging on by a nose in busy finish at Uttoxeter (2m4f, good) last summer; probably not suited by the slower ground when below that form in September but absent since and remains on a fairly tough mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

5

14th May 2026

Good

2m 3f 29y

Class 4

18:10 Fontwell

Hiconic

11st 12lb

J: Toby McCain-Mitchell

T: Alex Hales

Came second off basement Flat mark on latest outing in January and is well handicapped for this return to hurdling but she's not as good as she was and has become inconsistent; others appeal more.

16/1

2nd

8

(8)

29th Jan 2026

Standard

2m 0f 0y

Class 6

19:30 Chelmsford (AW)

Hiconic

8st 12lb

J: Hollie Doyle

T: Alex Hales

Seven-time winner over hurdles but 0-12 on Flat (0-10 on the AW); ran respectably when fourth of nine at Wolverhampton (2m, AW) last month but she was behind Taranjerine at Lingfield 22 days ago; others preferred.

14/1

Form: 35172-

Last run: 225 days

W: 11st 9lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
1-6 over hurdles for Gordon Elliott in Ireland; chased home useful rival in Clonmel handicap (2m4f, good) in October but was sold for £7,500 soon afterwards and has fitness to prove on this stable debut; tongue-tie added.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

9

22nd Feb 2024

Soft

2m 0f 88y

16:53 Thurles

Wudya

11st 11lb

J: Mr H C Swan

T: Gordon Elliott

Califet mare; half-sister to dual bumper winner You Oughta Know; dam unplaced in two bumpers (favourite each time), sister to bumper/2m4f hurdle winner Pont Aval, half-sister to smart 2m1f-2m6f hurdle/chase winner Pont Alexandre; interesting newcomer.

8/1

Form: 4P5P6- D

Last run: 112 days

W: 11st 2lb

8 yo Mare

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Ran quite well when fourth behind Masked Dance in this race a year ago and is 10lb lower now but has become far too inconsistent to rely upon; pulled up over C&D on latest hurdling start (Boxing Day) and safely held in a chase a few weeks later; needs 112-day break to have done her good.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

16th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

19:30 Aintree

Touchy Feely

11st 2lb

J: James Bowen

T: Nicky Henderson

Ran quite well when fourth behind Masked Dance in this race a year ago and is 10lb lower now but has become far too inconsistent to rely upon; pulled up over C&D on latest hurdling start (Boxing Day) and safely held in a chase a few weeks later; needs 112-day break to have done her good.

7/1

8

16th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

19:30 Aintree

Touchy Feely

11st 2lb

J: James Bowen

T: Nicky Henderson

Ran quite well when fourth behind Masked Dance in this race a year ago and is 10lb lower now but has become far too inconsistent to rely upon; pulled up over C&D on latest hurdling start (Boxing Day) and safely held in a chase a few weeks later; needs 112-day break to have done her good.

7/1

6th

7

24th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 31y

Class 4

12:55 Doncaster

Touchy Feely

11st 6lb

J: James Bowen

T: Nicky Henderson

pressed leader, led narrowly before 2nd, headed before 11th, not fluent 4 out

10/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £14.10
Straight Forecast £14.21
Tricast £71.77
Trifecta £84.50

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Masked Dance

The Times:

Versace Twentyone

TOPSPEED:

Sunday Soldier

RP RATINGS:

Ile De Jersey

Daily Mirror:

Versace Twentyone

The Star:

Versace Twentyone

Daily Record:

Versace Twentyone

WEST COUNTRY:

Sunday Soldier

Telegraph:

Sunday Soldier

The Guardian:

Masked Dance

Daily Mail:

Masked Dance

D Express:

Masked Dance

The Sun:

Masked Dance

POSTDATA:

Ile De Jersey