13:05 Warwick

Wednesday 22 November 2017

All12:3513:0513:4014:1014:4515:2015:50

Whitson Bloodstock Ltd Mares' Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:05 | Winning time: 5m 24.4s

Sparkling River²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Dave Crosse| T: Henry Oliver| OR: 120| C

18/1

Likes it around here with both her wins being over hurdles at the track (2m3f/2m5f) on soft/heavy ground. Beaten a long way on her return/chase debut at Worcester last time but should prove better than that, though it won't be easy from this mark.

Form: 51241-7

Same Circus³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: W T Kennedy| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 119| BF

11/2

Won a Catterick novices' hurdle (3m1½f, soft) by 13L from a mark of 120 in February. Held by the handicapper since, but now back on a more realistic mark for her chase debut and she looks a very interesting runner here.

Form: 22108-6

Miss Tongabezi^h,t²⁰⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: R P McLernon| T: P R Webber| OR: 118

16/1

Won a Huntingdon handicap hurdle (2m4½f) from a mark of 102 last December and proved that was no fluke with a Ludlow (3m) follow-up success from 11lb higher. Chase debut here after a break and from a mark that she can probably handle. Not ruled out.

Form: 21100-7

Cheltenham^h1,t1⁵⁰⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Ian Popham| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 117

100/1

Runner-up in a hurdle (2m1½f, good to soft) in France last year before form tailed off. Resumes for new yard after a 16-month absence. Dam a half-sister to a 2m3f chase winner, so market check suggested for this chase debut in first-time headgear.

Form: F/42365-

Sister Sibyl²⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: T J O'Brien| T: H Morrison| OR: 116

4/1

Well-placed to win half of her six starts so far, two of them over hurdles at around 2m last season. Step up in trip ought to suit, as does cut in the ground, so she should be able to give another good account on her chasing debut.

Form: 19/1210-

Grace Tara²³³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: R T Dunne| T: M Scudamore| OR: 115| D

10/1

Another who has bumper, maiden and novices' hurdle wins to her name, although ironically the only time she has failed to make the frame was here. Won when fresh last season and has the ability to get involved from this mark on her chase debut.

Form: 172231-

Indian Native¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Kielan Woods| T: A M Hales| OR: 115| D

9/4

Dual point-to-point winner who scored over hurdles at Hereford (2m3½f, heavy) in February by 21L. Handled this mark well enough on her recent chase debut at Carlisle (2m4f, good to soft) when beaten just 4½L and looks short-list material.

Form: 53313-4

Meribel Millie^t³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: N D Fehily| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 111| D

8/1

Won a bumper in 2015 for Harry Fry and a Sedgefield novices' hurdle (2m4f, soft) for this yard in March. Went very close next time in a handicap from just 1lb lower than today, though needs to improve her jumping from her Huntingdon chase debut.

Form: 79126-6

Miss Mash³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Andrew Tinkler| T: H D Daly| OR: 109| D

12/1

Didn't quite kick on after a 12L Bangor handicap hurdle (2m3½f, soft) win last December, though has shown further improvement more recently. Another nudge up of 1lb for this chase debut suggests that she will find winning tough. Each-way claims.

Form: 2-62242

Sheneededtherun¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: L Treadwell| T: M Scudamore| OR: 108| D

33/1

22L Wetherby maiden hurdle winner (2m3½f, good) in April, but in the grip of handicapper since. Not much encouragement from her 42L defeat in a mares' beginners chase last time, but yard back among winners and better effort likely from this mark.

Form: 441-8P5

Ballybrowneybridge³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Alain Cawley| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 96

14/1

Best effort so far was in a Roscommon bumper in 2015. Badly out of sorts since and well held on both starts over hurdles for this yard. May do better over fences now, but plenty for her to prove this time.

Form: 264P/5-0

Forecasts

Indian Native (9/4), Sister Sibyl (4/1), Same Circus (11/2), Meribel Millie (8/1), Grace Tara (10/1), Miss Mash (12/1), Ballybrowneybridge (14/1), Miss Tongabezi (16/1), Sparkling River (18/1), Sheneededtherun (33/1), Cheltenham (100/1)

An open-looking heat where the market should provide invaluable assistance given the number of chasing newcomers in the line-up. Michael Scudamore does well with the mares at his disposal and GRACE TARA is the suggestion in this contest. Sure to be well prepared for her chasing intro, she won when fresh last year, goes well on soft ground and is on a workable mark. Sister Sibyl is a potential danger as she starts out over fences, while others who could be involved in the shake-up include Indian Native, Miss Mash, Same Circus and Miss Tongabezi.