Next Meeting Thursday 5th December Mares' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:20 | Winning time: 5m 46.7s

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Selected odds by:

Near Dark¹⁶⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Joshua Parker⁽⁷⁾| T: M Wigham| OR: 96

16/1

Point winner in April 2022 and left previous hurdling efforts behind when third in a novice at Uttoxeter on debut for this yard five months ago. Could build on that now handicapping.

Form: P31/PP-3

Barra Blue⁴⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: J J Burke| T: F O'Brien| OR: 85

11/8

Promise on first of 2 starts in bumpers. Comfortably held over hurdles to date but very much the type to do better now handicapping upn in trip.

Form: 34-699

Dreaming Diamond^b1¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Oliver Boyden⁽⁷⁾| T: M Young| OR: 79

20/1

Bumper winner but didn't kick on over hurdles and well held so far for this yard. Back over hurdles.

Form: 572P54

Gaia Vallis¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: Brendan Powell| T: D G Bridgwater| OR: 77| C

5/6

It's been a while since her last victory but she has posted some creditable efforts in defeat, including when second at Plumpton on return. May strip fitter for it and another solid showing seems likely.

Form: 66648-2

Porridge¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-2| J: Tom Buckley⁽³⁾| T: Tracey Leeson| OR: 51

20/1

Fourth on sole outing in points but has yet to show any ability under Rules and looks up against it again.

Form: 6U0PP3

Forecasts

Gaia Vallis (5/6), Barra Blue (11/8), Near Dark (16/1), Porridge (20/1), Dreaming Diamond (20/1)

BARRA BLUE has shown minimal promise over hurdles to date but she's up in trip for handicap debut and, based on her hurdling debut, she's potentially thrown in off a mark of 85. She's preferred to the in-form but more exposed Gaia Vallis, while Near Dark is another one to note having her first go in handicaps.