Thoroughbred Breeders' Association Mares' Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 12:40 | Winning time: 4m 16.4s

Banjo Girl¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Maxime Tissier⁽⁷⁾| T: L Wadham| OR: 119| D

2/1

Handles cut in the ground although it was good when she won a similar contest at Southwell last month over this sort of trip. Well beaten in Listed company last time, but should be more competitive today despite her penalty.

Form: 4332-15

Dory³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: R Johnson| T: W Greatrex| D

7/4

Was the 7L winner of her debut bumper at Uttoxeter (good) in June and ran well for a long way in Listed company at Cheltenham last month. Pedigree suggests jumping will be her forte, so looks primed for a decent debut over hurdles.

Form: 17

Ghinia²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: Kielan Woods| T: Mrs P Sly

20/1

Triple winner over 1m on the Flat and was fit from that sphere when making her hurdles debut at Southwell last month, finishing 37L behind Banjo Girl there. Will need plenty of improvement. Handles soft ground.

Form: 5

Nicheinthemarket²²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: J E Moore| T: C Fryer

100/1

Unplaced in four Irish point-to-points and bought for £5,000 in the summer. Closely related to 2m3f chase winner Mocho. Dam won a bumper and is from family of John Hughes Trophy winners Bells Life and Indian Tonic. One to watch on rules debut.

Form: U44-5

Potters Midnight¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: L P Aspell| T: L Wadham| OR: 112| D

7/2

Won a Southwell bumper (good) in 2015 but remains a maiden over hurdles, her best being when third at Huntingdon (2m4½f, soft) last year. Was off for 22-months before a respectable return run at Towcester last month. Handles cut. Claims.

Form: 14453/4

Rosa Damascena⁴⁰

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

14/1

Winner of a Chelmsford maiden (1m2f, AW) in March and rated 74 on the Flat. Last of six, beaten 70L, on hurdles debut in a decent mares' contest at Newbury. This is easier, but she will need to show a rapid improvement to win it.

Form: P-6

Vbadge Treat⁵¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: N de Boinville| T: H Whittington

16/1

Well beaten in both of her bumpers, one in the spring and the more recent at Aintree in October being a backward step. Is half-sister to a useful 2m-2m3f hurdle/chase winner, so there may be more to come now. Market check suggested.

Form: 5-0

Forecasts

Dory (7/4), Banjo Girl (2/1), Potters Midnight (7/2), Rosa Damascena (14/1), Vbadge Treat (16/1), Ghinia (20/1), Nicheinthemarket (100/1)

Lucy Wadham appears to hold the key to this race with Banjo Girl and POTTERS MIDNIGHT and the latter gets the vote. The seven-year-old proved her well being and that she retains much of her initial ability when going well at Huntingdon last time and she can step up on that to win against her penalised, though respected, stable companion. Dory is clearly an interesting debutante in this sphere and should be capable of a decent showing. The others could still be anything, so a market check is advisable as there may be a significant improver waiting in the wings.