Invest Southwest Mares' Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:30 | Winning time: 4m 10.2s

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Selected odds by:

Hidden Beauty²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Liam Harrison⁽³⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 119| D

5/6

Ffos Las bumper winner who made it third time lucky over hurdles when landing a big-field Doncaster novice (16.6f, soft) in decisive fashion last month, proving 4¼ lengths lengths too strong for the re-opposing Passing Reflection (5 lb pull). The one to beat.

Form: 1P8-C41

Blue Anchor^h1⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Hobbs & J White

150/1

Beaten a long way on debut in a Warwick bumper and subsequently pulled up starting out over hurdles at Wincanton. Now tried in a hood.

Form: 0P

Faerie Cutlass²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls

33/1

Showed a bit when midfield in a 16-runner Warwick bumper on debut in November and likewise on hurdling bow here (19f, soft) last month. Likely to do better in time but shapes like a stayer, so this drop in trip is of dubious benefit.

Form: 76

Parikarma⁶⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: N F Houlihan⁽³⁾| T: G & J Moore

13/2

Notched third success on the Flat in a Brighton handicap in October and fared best of those held up when fourth in a big-field Lingfield novice (2m, good to soft) on hurdles debut. That experience won't be wasted on her and she should pick up a race in this sphere before long.

Form: 4

Passing Reflection^h²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King

5/2

Failed to build on bumper debut promise when mid-field at Warwick in November (too free in the first-time hood). Again took a strong hold when chasing home Hidden Beauty on first run over hurdles at Doncaster and will need to settle better if she's to turn the tables on that rival here.

Form: 2-92

Sawpit Samantha⁶⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: R T Dunne| T: S Drinkwater

125/1

Debut effort in a bumper wasn't completely devoid of encouragement but there were very few positives to take from her subsequent hurdles bow at Sedgefield.

Form: 6-7

Inspiratrice^h¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: Ben Jones| T: Nicky Martin| OR: 107| CD

13/2

Left her previous efforts well behind when causing a huge shock (200/1) by landing a C&D juvenile event at the end of December. In the process of backing that effort up when all but brought down 2 out at Doncaster recently (eventually unseated) and her 4-y-o allowance makes things interesting.

Form: 601U

Forecasts

Hidden Beauty (5/6), Passing Reflection (5/2), Parikarma (13/2), Inspiratrice (13/2), Faerie Cutlass (33/1), Sawpit Samantha (125/1), Blue Anchor (150/1)

Provided she is able to at least match what she achieved at Doncaster last time, HIDDEN BEAUTY should be capable of defying a penalty here. The runner-up on Town Moor that day, Passing Reflection, could get closer if settling better this time but Fergal O'Brien's charge will probably again prove too good, in any case. Armed with her handy 4-y-o allowance, Inspiratrice can also be expected to make an impact.