Betfred Mares' Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 14:36 | Winning time: 5m 14.12s

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Selected odds by:

Indy Island¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Craig Nichol| T: S R B Crawford| OR: 108

5/1

2m Down Royal maiden hurdle winner (soft to heavy) on her penultimate start in late January, but didn't seem to get home and quickly eased when beaten on her handicap debut over 2m4f at Fairyhouse last month. This race is far weaker, and the ground much less testing, both of which will help her stamina concerns immeasurably.

Form: 641026

Molly Carew⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: S Corby⁽³⁾| T: N P Mulholland

1/1

Shock 33/1 winner of a small field mares novices hurdle on deep ground at Lingfield in late January under this rider. Whilst that effort wasn't a major step forward on her previous form, it at least demonstrated that she's most willing, and this race will also take little winning despite her winners penalty.

Form: 8

Chicksgrove Sprite^t¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Philip Donovan⁽⁷⁾| T: N P Mulholland

20/1

Stablemate of Molly Carew who has yet to finish better than fifth in four appearance to date (two hurdles and two bumpers). Well held last time in selling company over this trip at Taunton, with the majority of her racing so far coming on better ground.

Form: 90/655-

Midnight Walk^t¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: W T Kennedy| T: D McCain Jnr

9/1

Sold for £15,000 after her debut Irish Point-to-Point success in October 2016, but after just the sole start in bumpers, she has failed to beat a single rival home in two novice hurdles, so little reason to expect better here despite the clear paucity of useful opposition.

Form: 189541-

Oscar's Song⁴⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: G B Watters⁽³⁾| T: C E Longsdon

5/2

Makes her hurdles debut, upped in trip in a very winnable contest. Has appeared to lack much of a turn of foot in both her starts in bumpers, and being by Oscar this is probably to be expected. The market is likely to speak volumes for her winning chances for a trainer who is 1 from 7 (14%) at this track in the past five years.

Form: 3

Forecasts

Molly Carew (1/1), Oscar's Song (5/2), Indy Island (5/1), Midnight Walk (9/1), Chicksgrove Sprite (20/1)

A very uncompetitive mares novices hurdle in which the penalised pair Indy Island and Molly Carew have at least shown most willing attitudes in managing to get their respective heads in front. However, despite this being much easier for Indy Island than the handicap she tackled at Fairyhouse recently, her clear stamina doubts can be exposed by the hurdling debutant OSCAR'S SONG as she steps up three and a half furlongs in trip representing a trainer who is an infrequent visitor to this County Durham track.