13:45 Fontwell

Monday 11 December 2017

All12:4513:1513:4514:1514:4515:1515:40

Salisbury Hardwood Flooring Mares' Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 13:45 | Winning time: 5m 12.1s

Roksana³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 120

7/2

Built on a promising hurdles debut at Chepstow when landing the spoils as expected as 10/11F at Plumpton over 2m4½f. Won with plenty in hand by 6L there so if as effective on this softer ground she will take all the beating.

Form: 4-31

Bold Image²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: Jack Sherwood⁽³⁾| T: Miss S Smith| C

20/1

2016 Fontwell bumper winner returned from 13 month absence at Plumpton last month. Disappointing seventh there where she jumped really quite poorly. Obviously has ability but will have to tidy up her hurdling.

Form: 1-7

Geni Johnson^p⁷⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: Mr Lewis Gordon⁽⁷⁾| T: Alexandra Dunn

50/1

Maker her stable debut here but never got competitive in six unplaced starts in maiden hurdles in Ireland. Hard to fancy her based on that form.

Form: 869870

Jubilympics²²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: Kevin Jones⁽⁵⁾| T: J W Mullins

8/1

Built on promise of first three bumpers when winning at the fourth time of asking at Towcester when last seen in May. No reason she can't go well here providing she jumps fluently on hurdles debut.

Form: 322-1

Madame Claud¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: T Dowling⁽⁵⁾| T: Mark Gillard

100/1

Brought down at 250/1 on hurdles debut and beaten over 100L next at Lingfield where her jumping was very novice. Very surprising if she makes first five.

Form: B0

My Dance³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: Aidan Coleman| T: A J Honeyball

14/1

Point-to-point winner not disgraces in bumpers at Stratford (fourth of eight) and Warwick (eight of 18). Good trainer with hurdlers so could step up now over timber but others have better form on level.

Form: 1-48

Mythical Legend⁵⁷⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: L P Aspell| T: Miss E C Lavelle

10/1

Ran with promise in a pair of bumpers back in 2016 with her second at Bangor in the latest of them decent form. Lengthy layoff raises question marks however so best watched barring significant market support.

Form: 6/2-

Oscar Star³⁵

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

10/1

Left previous form behind when chasing home Roksana last time out at 50/1. Six lengths to make up here but rivals 7lb penalty theoretically gives her a good chance although suspect she will struggle to turn it around.

Form: 42-952

Remember Me Well

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: A Glassonbury| T: R Rowe

66/1

Newcomer by King George winner Doyen is a half-sister to useful stayer Fight Commander. Suspect she may need further and this a tough spot to start off.

Form:

Rosa Damascena³²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King

10/1

Bumped into high class Cap Soleil in a very hot Newbury contest on return when last of six. Pulled up in only previous hurdle race back in December 2016 too so more to find although strongly suspect we will see her do better today.

Form: P-6

Rosemary Russet²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: N D Fehily| T: H Fry| BF

8/1

Won third and final bumper at Southwell to end last season. Made favourite on hurdles debut at Exeter so her fading eighth was disappointing but better expected for good yard with fitness now boosted.

Form: U61-8

Solstice Twilight³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: H Cobden| T: A J Honeyball

20/1

Returned from a layoff last month when fourth in a bumper at Wincanton. Showed enough in each of three such races to say she can win races over hurdles but others more likely today.

Form: 464

The Vocalist²⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson

15/8

Second on debut before winning comfortably in a Carlisle bumper on second start back in April. Joined champion trainer since so fully expecting her to be in the thick of things on hurdles and season debut.

Form: 21-

Forecasts

The Vocalist (15/8), Roksana (7/2), Rosemary Russet (8/1), Jubilympics (8/1), Mythical Legend (10/1), Rosa Damascena (10/1), Oscar Star (10/1), My Dance (14/1), Bold Image (20/1), Solstice Twilight (20/1), Geni Johnson (50/1), Remember Me Well (66/1), Madame Claud (100/1)

It may be worth chancing THE VOCALIST here for the Nicky Henderson team. The master of Seven Barrows is as usual having a fine season with his novice hurdlers and has several good mares among them so he ought to have a good idea as to her ability. Roksana has the benefit of a recent win and is sure to go well here but the 7lb penalty could leave her vulnerable. Oscar Star wasn't far behind Roksana at Plumpton and is 7lb better off today so she too is worth consideration.