Happy 16th Birthday Poppy Timbrell Mares' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 19:23 | Winning time: 3m 50.5s

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Selected odds by:

Amelia's Dance¹⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Bryan Carver| T: R Walford| OR: 118| CD

8/1

Has found just one too good on several occasions since latest success in 2022. Can have a line put through her latest effort at Kempton (16f, good) last month (all but came down third) and few would begrudge this mare another moment in the sun.

Form: 52224P-

Greyval¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: J J Burke| T: F O'Brien| OR: 115| D

7/4

Dual winner in juvenile hurdles in 2022/23 season, including a listed event at Doncaster. Shaped encouragingly after 4 months off when a close fourth of 6 at this C&D (good to soft) 18 days ago and she's likely to be thereabouts again.

Form: 118/664-

Pillar Of Steel²¹¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: David Noonan| T: Henry Oliver| OR: 113| CD

16/1

As good as ever when getting back to winning ways in mares' handicap over C&D in August. Ran much better than on her debut for James Evans when fourth of 8 at Ludlow (15.8f, good) 7 months ago and has since rejoined her former yard.

Form: 331364-

Lone Star^t²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Joe Williamson⁽³⁾| T: P A Kirby| OR: 110

9/1

Had a productive time in 2022/23, scoring 5 times. Not quite in same form last campaign but was still in touch when falling at the sixth at Cheltenham (20.2f, good) 3 weeks ago. Worth another chance back at her last winning mark.

Form: 66384F-

We'llgowats^t¹³⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: B S Hughes| T: L O'Brien| OR: 101| D

9/1

Doubled her tally over hurdles at Gowran in September and her penultimate runner-up effort at Wexford was a career best. However, she was tailed off at Down Royal (17f, soft) on Boxing Day and it's hard to know what mood she'll arrive in.

Form: 53/1920-

Tour Ovalie³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: Isabel Williams⁽³⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 98| BF

3/1

Fair in bumpers and not far off that level over hurdles. Bumped into a well-treated rival when second at Hereford (16.2f, soft) last month, so she shouldn't be far away nudged up 1 lb.

Form: 653422-

Asian Spice⁴⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: Cameron Iles⁽⁷⁾| T: J D Frost| OR: 94

11/2

Represents some of last season's strongest low-grade handicap hurdle form lines courtesy of her exploits at Exeter (won twice in November). Has struggled on all 3 subsequent starts though, so arrives with a bit to prove.

Form: 511840-

Forecasts

Greyval (7/4), Tour Ovalie (3/1), Asian Spice (11/2), Amelia's Dance (8/1), We'llgowats (9/1), Lone Star (9/1), Pillar Of Steel (16/1)

GREYVAL signalled her turn may be imminent with an encouraging fourth over C&D on return recently and with that sure to have blown away any cobwebs, Fergal O'Brien's 5-y-o can notch her third success over hurdles at the expense of Lone Star, who was still in the mix before coming to grief at Cheltenham last month. Tour Ovalie can edge out Amelia's Dance for bronze.