Lady Mendoza makes her first start since June for the Coral Racing Club this afternoon, in the 13:35 Mares' Handicap Hurdle (Class 4) at Musselburgh over two miles and four furlongs.

Read our Raceday LIVE preview below and join us ahead of the race for all the build-up and live updates from the track with the team and our lucky owners for the day across our social channels.

 X (TWITTER) – @Coral 

 INSTAGRAM – @coralofficial 

Raceday LIVE Preview

Lady Mendoza heads to Musselburgh for the first time in her career this afternoon, in her first start since finishing 3rd under Brian Hughes at Uttoxeter five months ago. 

The Rebecca Menzies trained mare has been placed twice in her five starts under rules, including over an extended two miles and four furlong trip and in her last appearance over just shy of three miles. 


Rebecca Menzies with Lady Mendoza

Going into this season, the idea was to send Lady Mendoza straight over fences, due to the jumping ability that she showed in her final point-to-point race. However, the weather going into the autumn was worse than expected, which meant that Rebecca was unable to school her properly over fences before the beginning of the campaign.

With that in mind, the decision was made to send the mare out over hurdles in her first appearance of the season, with a view to go chasing soon after, when the cobwebs have been blown away. 

This is what Rebecca had to say this morning:

I’m really looking forward to this afternoon. Lady Mendoza has been such a fresh horse at home in recent weeks, so hopefully we’ll see plenty of that enthusiasm on the track this afternoon, as we did on her first run at Newcastle last season.
 
We schooled her once over fences, but then we got all the rain and she really hated jumping out of heavy ground, so that’s why we’re keeping her over hurdles for this comeback run. All being well we can get plenty of schooling into her after today, and get her chasing soon.
 
After all the rain, we’ve got snow here now, so it’s a testing time for us in terms of the weather, but we’re well used to that here!  


Nathan Moscrop riding Lady Mendoza at home

TRAINER AND JOCKEY FORM

Rebecca Menzies has been in solid form in the last seven days, sending out a winner at both Sedgefield and Catterick. 

Nathan Moscrop rides Lady Mendoza for the fourth time today, having taken the reins on her first three outings under rules. On her debut last November, he rode her to a second place finish, which is still her best finish to date.

TODAY'S OPPOSITION

• Autumn Return carries top weight in the race, having won two of her previous five races and finishing second in two more. Reigning Champion Jumps Jockey, Brian Hughes, rides her for in form trainer Ruth Jefferson.
• Lone Star returns to Musselburgh for the first time since scoring in back-to-back contests over course and distance in March. Regular partner Joe Williamson jumps onboard, claiming five pounds. 
• Nowinittowinit arrives here off the back of two straight victories, both of which came at Perth, with the first of those being over today's distance. 

 13:35 MUSSELBURGH – LATEST BETTING HERE 

Thanks for reading today's Raceday LIVE Preview and don't forget to tune in just before 13:35 to watch Lady Mendoza's next run for the club.