12:55 Warwick

Tuesday 31 December 2019

All12:2512:5513:3014:0014:3515:1015:40

LPS British Stallion Studs EBF Mares' 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 12:56 | Winning time: 5m 20.7s

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Selected odds by:

Emmas Joy²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 124| C

10/11

Well fancied when taking on Grade 2 company at Sandown last time she returns to calmer waters under a penalty. That extra weight was gained for her 2m win here on her second hurdles start; should be suited by this trip, leading player.

Form:

Agent Valdez¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: C Brace⁽³⁾| T: F O'Brien

33/1

Irish point-to-point winner but her form in bumpers and over hurdles so far has been modest. Pulled up over C&D last time when a 50-1 chance, time and a handicap mark are what she ideally needs.

Form:

Always Able¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: T J O'Brien| T: Mrs F Kehoe

40/1

Runner-up on the last of her three start in point-to-points she didn't go with much promise on her Rules debut at Fakenham. Plodded on to finish midfield on that occasion this extra distance should suit better.

Form:

Arans Choice^t1⁶⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Harry Teal⁽⁵⁾| T: R A Teal

33/1

Won her only completed start in Irish point-to-points by 1L, sold for £10,000 soon after. Tongue-tie goes on for her first Rules/stable start; would be a surprise winner.

Form:

Cill Anna^t1²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls

7/2

Won an Irish point-to-point on her only start in that sphere and whilst showing some ability in bumpers she stepped further forward on her hurdling debut last time at this trip. Sure to come on again and looks sure to be in the mix.

Form:

Granny's Secret²²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: N de Boinville| T: B Pauling

6/1

Second in a point-to-point bumper in March she shaped well on her debut back in May in an Aintree bumper. Not given the best of rides on that occasion she now makes her hurdles debut up in trip; yard finding its feet again.

Form:

Misaps¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: C Gethings| T: S Edmunds

33/1

Offered something to work on when third in a 2m bumper here earlier in the month looking as though she would learn from the experience. Should have more to give on her hurdling debut but may find a few that are further on in their careers.

Form:

Notawordofalie¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill

20/1

Kelso bumper winner at the third attempt still looking as though she had some quirks failing to follow up under a penalty. Two relatively quiet hurdles runs to her name so far (better than her placing last time), interesting with a mark.

Form:

Rose Of Aghaboe²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: James Davies| T: N J Gifford| C

12/1

Caused a surprise when winning a bumper here on her debut at 40-1 and then shaped well on her hurdles debut at Lingfield. Better than the 27L she was beaten into second (paid the price for competing too early); likely to do better.

Form:

Tara Niece⁵³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Ben Jones⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss E C Lavelle

9/1

Ran no race at all last time despite being placed on her debut although she may have needed the race after five months off. Given the ability that she showed in bumpers and on her hurdles debut she ought to do better this time around.

Form:

Thequeenbee²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Charlie Hammond⁽³⁾| T: S-J Davies

100/1

Modest form in Irish point-to-points she was well held on her Rules debut at Leicester earlier in the month losing touch some way out. Hard to see her making much of an impression in this contest against some useful sorts.

Form:

Thoor Castle⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Aidan Coleman| T: Miss E C Lavelle

20/1

Winner in the point-to-point field in Ireland and with a decent pedigree she's been disappointing so far over hurdles. Well held on both her starts she could only plug on over C&D last time and she may need an even longer trip.

Form:

Forecasts

Emmas Joy (10/11), Cill Anna (7/2), Granny's Secret (6/1), Tara Niece (9/1), Rose Of Aghaboe (12/1), Thoor Castle (20/1), Notawordofalie (20/1), Agent Valdez (33/1), Arans Choice (33/1), Misaps (33/1), Always Able (40/1), Thequeenbee (100/1)

Some potentially nice mares’ in this and Emmas Joy already successful around here over a shorter trip will enjoy this ease in grade after finding a Sandown Grade 2 too tough last time out. She’ll be hard to beat but Cill Anna may just have the tools to do so wearing a tongue-tie for the first time having a liking for a test of stamina like this last time at Wincanton. Course bumper winner Rose Of Aghaboe paid for trying to take it to a decent sort last time and she’s better than a well beaten second showed. Tara Niece and Granny’s Secret are worth noting although the most interesting to keep an eye on will be Notawordofalie as this is her run for a mark.