14:35 Wincanton

Thursday 2 February 2017

All13:2514:0014:3515:1015:4516:1516:45

EBF Mares' 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 14:35 | Winning time: 5m 51.60s

Grace Tara¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: T Scudamore| T: M Scudamore

15/8

Easy winner of a Lingfield maiden hurdle (2m 3f, heavy) in November, though a bit disappointing that she did not take a closer hand at Warwick on her latest start. Has to shoulder a penalty, though not ruled out if she can return to that Lingfield form.

Form: 311/1

Cautious Kate²⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-0| J: Sean Houlihan⁽⁷⁾| T: C J Gray| OR: 94

100/1

Irish point-to-point winner three years ago, though not seen since the last of three novices' hurdles run in which she was well beaten, in March 2015. Plenty to prove.

Form: 1967/54

Hitherjacques Lady¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: L P Aspell| T: O Sherwood| OR: 110

8/13

Debut bumper winner who finished ahead of a decent sort at Huntingdon last month when runner-up to Mariah's Legend (2m 4f, good to soft). Sticks to taking on her own sex and a maiden hurdling win does not look far away.

Form: 032110

Lady Ash¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: James Best| T: R Walford

25/1

Improved from first run to second in bumpers and tries to maintain that upward curve on her hurdling introduction. Yard not in red hot form at present, however, so perhaps best watched again today.

Form: 4/P9786-

Milan Hart³³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: L Heard| T: M Hill

50/1

Defeats got progressively longer in bumpers, so now switched to obstacles and stepped up in trip. The latter looks to be the most positive thing about her credentials and we need to see more before recommending.

Form: 40/0P5-

Theatre Rouge^h³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Tom Cheesman⁽⁵⁾| T: P Hobbs & J White

12/1

Best effort was on soft ground in a poor Newton Abbot bumper in April and doesn't look to be one of her top yard's leading lights judged on her introduction to timber at Huntingdon last month. Improvement entirely possible, though looks one to take on today.

Form: 968471-

We'll Be There¹²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: T J O'Brien| T: W S Kittow

100/1

Ordinary efforts both in a point-to-point and when pulled up on her rules debut and readily opposed here.

Form: 6/P322

Non-Runners

Naranja⁵³

Weight: 11-0| Age: 5

T: Jamie Snowden J: Nick Scholfield

Forecasts

Hitherjacques Lady (8/13), Naranja (5/4), Grace Tara (15/8), Theatre Rouge (12/1), Lady Ash (25/1), Milan Hart (50/1), We'll Be There (100/1), Cautious Kate (100/1)

As these races often are, this is thin on genuine competitors, with the vote going to NARANJA. Jamie Snowden's five-year-old has already earned black type and can build on a decent hurdles debut now stepped up to a more suitable trip. Hitherjacques Lady looks likely to be thereabouts, while Grace Tara can still go well despite her penalty, despite throwing in a poor run last time. 1. Naranja 2. Hitherjacques Lady 3. Grace Tara