Sunday 22nd April 2023

 



15:45 Stratford

This looks a relatively weak mare's handicap hurdle and initially I was drawn to Luna Dora after her comfortable success at Fakenham last time out. She made a shuddering error mid race but still travelled strongly for the remainder of the race ultimately pulling over seven lengths clear of the second. However, she is 2lb out of the handicap and although that wouldn't neccesarily put me off, it does when she's as short as 9/4 at the head of the market.

In the search of alternatives FANCY STUFF stuck out like a sore thumb to me. Dan Skelton's mare looked a fairly blatant non-stayer at Warwick last time out after making some eye-catching headway 3 hurdles out. Her form from earlier in the season looks decent now, a creditable third behind Deere Mark who won a class 3 on his next start and is now rated 123. The 2nd and 4th have also ran well since and are rated 119. She was receiving a mares allowance that day but even. accounting for that, this mark of 101 definitely looks within reach. 

Prior to that she'd finished a good second beaten 3 lengths behind Queens Rock off level weights, that rival is now rated 120 after bolting up in a class 4 mare's handicap hurdle off a mark of 109. So you've got to think this drop back in trip off this mark could do the trick for connections who combined well yesterday at Ayr with Sail Away.


FANCY STUFF 15/2 - 1 Point Win

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