14:45 Kelso

Sunday 8 December 2019

All12:1512:4513:1513:4514:1514:4515:15

EBF Mares' 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 14:49 | Winning time: 5m 43.26s

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Selected odds by:

Aurora Thunder²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Blair Campbell⁽³⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 117

3/1

Showed ability in bumpers before scoring at the third time of asking over hurdles at Ayr in October not needing to improve but getting off the mark in fair style. Unfortunate to bump into a real improver on handicap debut last time; certain player.

Form: 42-5312

Glorious Lady²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Craig Nichol| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 119| BF

11/8

Bumper and hurdles winner (on her debut) who has racked up three seconds to her name in her subsequent starts, the last two Sedgefield handicaps. Shaped really well last time, going nicely at the head of affairs; gets a good opportunity here.

Form: 61-1222

Blossoming Forth²²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Henry Brooke| T: Ruth Jefferson

4/1

Cost £130,000 after beating two rivals in point-to-point only to disappoint majorly on her bumper debut (yard out of form at the time). Took a huge step forward on hurdling debut when finishing second (had run of race) at Wetherby; in the mix.

Form: 102

Bright Side Oflife²¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr

16/1

2L Irish point-to-point winner (second start) who looked a work in progress when making her bumper debut (12-1) at Hexham earlier in the year (finished fourth). Makes her hurdles debut but this outing may well be needed as was her bumper debut.

Form: 51/4

Danced Every Dance³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Callum Whillans⁽³⁾| T: D W Whillans

66/1

Little to say about her efforts so far in three bumpers and two novice hurdles with all of her outings separated by absences. Looked rusty when last seen at Carlisle plugging on over 2m4f in testing conditions; need this run for a mark.

Form: 7/35-49

Fair Minx⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Ryan Mania| T: A M Thomson

50/1

Managed to punctuate two very ordinary efforts in bumpers with a Hexham second in that sphere although the form of that run is only modest. Made a poor start to her hurdling career after six months of, making a mistake filled debut at Ayr (2m4f).

Form: 82-97

Maid O'Malley⁷⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Sam Coltherd⁽³⁾| T: W Coltherd

6/1

Winner of her only outing in point-to-points when winning a maiden in that sphere she made a good fist of her Rules debut over hurdles some six months later at Perth. Ran to a fair level when second on that occasion, now needs to build on that here.

Form: 1-2

Picking Peaches

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: R P McLernon| T: R M Smith

66/1

Newcomer, cost €21,000 as a 3yo, half-brother to 2m-2m4f hurdle/useful chase winner Sonofagun and triple bumper winner Bentham. Dam was a bumper winner so enough in the pedigree to think she might get involved at some point over hurdles.

Form:

Raddle And Hum^h¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Danny McMenamin⁽⁵⁾| T: Micky Hammond

25/1

Has shown some aptitude for hurdling but looks the sort who is being brought along carefully with handicaps in mind (should get a mark after this run). Wore a first-time hood (retained) last time; never on terms but was looked after.

Form: 2-858

Non-Runners

Our Promise²⁵

Weight: 10-12| Age: 5

T: S Corbett J: Ross Chapman

Racks Cross²¹⁰

Weight: 10-12| Age: 5

T: Mrs H O Graham J: Callum Bewley

Forecasts

Glorious Lady (11/8), Aurora Thunder (3/1), Blossoming Forth (4/1), Maid O'Malley (6/1), Racks Cross (10/1), Bright Side Oflife (16/1), Raddle And Hum (25/1), Our Promise (25/1), Fair Minx (50/1), Danced Every Dance (66/1), Picking Peaches (66/1)

A fair mares’ event with both of the leading players in GLORIOUS LADY and Aurora Thunder penalised and looking to get back on the winning trail. The first-named of that duo has gone close in a couple of handicaps of late with plenty of positives to be drawn from her recent second at Sedgefield where she travelled and jumped well. The latter was unlucky to find herself up against an improving type last time at Ayr and she has to remain of interest. Blossoming Forth and Maid O’Malley both showed encouraging sign on their hurdling debuts and it surely won’t be long before those two pick up something in this sphere. Racks Cross is one to watch for the future for a small yard that do well here.