20th-Mar-2021

This race has looked like a good target for Saint Dalina since she finished third behind J’Ai Froid and Fawsley Spirit in a three-mile handicap hurdle at Ascot last month.

Held up early on that day, she made good progress down the side of the track, and she emerged as a threat to the first two from the second last flight.  The three of them fought out the finish and, while Saint Dalina weakened close home, she still held off Flight Deck for third.

Charlie Longsdon’s mare was weak in the market before that race.  As well as that, she raced in rear, while the first two home were both prominent from flagfall.  She was the only horse who emerged from the rear with a chance of winning the race.

The handicapper raised her by 2lb for that run to a mark of 124, which was fair.  She can be marked up at least a little on the bare form of the run.  Also, she goes well at Uttoxeter, a track at which course form is more valuable than at others.  She won a handicap hurdle there last December, and she finished second in another handicap hurdle there 10 days later, over today’s course and distance.

Hopefully the ground won’t dry out too much, because she does go well on soft ground at Uttoxeter.  But the hurdles course is softer than the chase course, and they are calling it soft, so that should be fine.  And Tom Buckley, who knows the mare well, is back on board, taking off a useful 5lb.

SAINT DALINA WON (ADV 13/2, SP 4/1)