14:40 Towcester

Thursday 30 November 2017

All12:4013:1013:4014:1014:4015:1015:40

Weatherbys 'Birdie' Calendar 2018 Mares' 'National Hunt' Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 14:40 | Winning time: 3m 55.6s

Ask Catkin¹⁷⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Benjamin Poste| T: T Symonds

25/1

Pulled up on her hurdling debut at Southwell in a small field having started at 20/1. Reportedly bled on that occasion and best treated with caution here on her return.

Form: P

Biscuit^t1¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls

8/1

Similar sort of form in three bumper starts (placed in two of them) but failed to make much of an impression on her hurdles debut and was pulled-up despite starting at 3/1. Made mistakes and dropped away tamely and more needed here to get involved.

Form: 243-P

Cadeaux's Fire^t1²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Kielan Woods| T: C E Longsdon

20/1

Tongue-tie now goes on for the first time having shown only poor form in three bumpers starts. Those runs were hardly inspiring and can only be watched in her first hurdles start.

Form: 64-0

Floral Bouquet²⁴⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden

11/1

Fair form in bumpers having been placed in her last two starts in that sphere when with Gillian Bonas. Makes her hurdles debut now for a new yard but may need further (stamina in her pedigree) to show her best.

Form: 023-

Luck Of The Legion²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Mr Tommie M O'Brien⁽⁷⁾| T: T Lacey

20/1

Quite well found in the market (started 8/1) when finishing last on her bumper debut at Southwell. Should be capable of better further down the line and may need more time.

Form: 0

Nicely Done^t¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: P J Brennan| T: S Durack

50/1

Form was only modest in bumpers and she's really failed to progress in any of her hurdles starts with her best run coming over C&D in October. Much more needed here though and looks more the type for handicaps once she has a mark.

Form: 645499

Potters Midnight⁶⁸⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: L P Aspell| T: L Wadham| OR: 120| D

11/2

Already has mark of 120 which marks her out as capable of winning something like this having shown promise in similar events. Does have a long absence to overcome though and fitness may well be an issue.

Form: 714453/

Scented Lily¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: C Poste| T: C E Longsdon

20/1

Has made only limited impact in bumpers and over hurdles with progress (if any) very steady. May well be better suited by low-grade handicaps once she obtains a rating.

Form: 777

Spice Girl^t¹²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: R Johnson| T: M Keighley| D

3/1

Completed a hat-trick in bumpers last time out when winning at Uttoxeter by 10L and the ability to do that marks her down as useful. Has shown an excellent attitude in bumpers and if that's carried over to hurdles then she will be hard to beat in this.

Form: 8-111

Tangoed¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: James Banks| T: H Whittington

25/1

From a yard that are going well this season she's the winner of a point-to-point and showed up well in two summertime bumpers. Not been able to transfer that form to hurdles though and could do with a stiffer test.

Form: 13200

The Crazed Moon²²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Dave Crosse| T: Henry Oliver

13/2

Got off the mark at the fourth attempt in Irish point-to-points and showed plenty of ability on her first start under Rules at Chepstow. Looked as though the run would bring her on (nearest finish); plenty left to work on.

Form: 6/42-14

Timeforben^p1¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe

15/2

Won an Irish Maiden point-to-point on debut and further showed that she had ability when taking third on her bumper debut. Had the run of the race on her hurdles debut at Exeter but entitled to progress and in the mix here.

Form: 1-33

Youknowell²³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: R P McLernon| T: P R Webber

14/1

Price rose to £52,000 as a four-year-old and is a half-sister to the fairly useful hurdler Tuzo. Finished runner-up on her second Irish point-to-point start and now makes her Rules debut. Interesting to see how she figures in the market in relation to one in the same ownership.

Form: 42-

Your Wan⁵⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Killian Moore⁽³⁾| T: J & A O'Neill

15/2

Closely related to the smart hurdler/top-class chaser Synchronised and shaped with plenty of promise in a mares bumper at Stratford. Yard has had notable success with this family and likely to improve over hurdles but may need further to show her best.

Form: 4

Forecasts

Spice Girl (3/1), Potters Midnight (11/2), The Crazed Moon (13/2), Your Wan (15/2), Timeforben (15/2), Biscuit (8/1), Floral Bouquet (11/1), Youknowell (14/1), Scented Lily (20/1), Luck Of The Legion (20/1), Cadeaux's Fire (20/1), Ask Catkin (25/1), Tangoed (25/1), Nicely Done (50/1)

Some interesting types in this and it might take a little bit of winning although a few may need a little further or a greater test of stamina. Timeforben got the run of the race last time out but still shaped as though she could win something like this. Biscuit will need to show more than she has so far after disappointing last time and the time away from the track may count against Potters Midnight. The JP McManus pair Youknowell and Your Wan are of obvious interest although both may need more time and further. SPICE GIRL marked herself down as progressive when winning three bumpers in a row (a rare feat) and if she takes to hurdles she could continue her progress.