A J C Group Newcastle Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 14:16 | Winning time: 4m 36.6s

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Selected odds by:

Cats For Cash^b²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 107

7/4

12-race maiden but has run well on a number of occasions including second at Ballinrobe in July. Fifth when beaten favourite over C&D in June so is no good thing, but brings better form than most to the table.

Form: 453260

Amber Run¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: A W Short⁽⁵⁾| T: P J Rothwell

66/1

Arcadio geldng has shown little in one bumper and one maiden hurdle so far. Step up in trip may help but needs to improve a great deal to land the spoils.

Form: 00

Patrick Joseph^p,t⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: K Brogan⁽⁷⁾| T: D Broad| OR: 94

8/1

25-race dual purpose maiden who has yet to reach a place in four starts under NH rules. Showed some promise when fourth on hurdles bow at Sligo in April but didn't show much on handicap bow last time at Tramore. Steps up in trip.

Form: 4008

Heather Blossom²⁰⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: C D Maxwell| T: Mrs S Dawson

50/1

Exit To Nowhere mare was tailed off last of nine in Down Royal bumper in January for Liam Lennon. Makes debut for new yard after seven-month absence and will do very well to figure on hurdles bow.

Form: 9-

Wendy Howell¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins

7/2

Yeats half-sister to brilliant Champion Hurdle winner Hurricane Fly. Tailed off on debut in April Fairyhouse bumper, but better when seventh here in bumper recently. Represents top yard and may improve now tackling hurdles for first time.

Form: 0-7

Miraculum²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Donagh Meyler| T: C A McBratney| OR: 85

33/1

Failed to score in nine starts on Flat for Jim Bolger and hasn't shown much in four runs for current yard. Will have better chance when going handicapping but faces a tough task here.

Form: 055

So Enjoy⁴²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Darragh O'Keeffe⁽⁵⁾| T: J Nash| OR: 99

7/4

22-race maiden but placed in five of her 10 starts over hurdles, inlcuding last two outngs both over C&D. Not easy to win with but has better form than most in this race and should be thereabouts once again.

Form: 33-2823

Forecasts

Cats For Cash (7/4), So Enjoy (7/4), Wendy Howell (7/2), Patrick Joseph (8/1), Miraculum (33/1), Heather Blossom (50/1), Amber Run (66/1)

Although she's shown precious little so far Hurricane Fly's half-sister WENDY HOWELL may do better now facing hurdles for the first time. Her top trainer will be keen to get a win out of her for paddock value, if nothing else, and this is a very weak race. Of those with previous experience Cats For Cash is highest rated and should be bang there, while So Enjoy has gone well enough here on her last two starts and has place prospects at the very least. The rest make little collective appeal although there may be a shade of improvement in Miraculum.