British Stallion Studs EBF Mares' 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 14:05 | Winning time: 4m 10.9s

Spice Girl^t³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: R Johnson| T: M Keighley| D

13/8

Prolific winner of bumpers who completed a four-timer on her hurdles debut in a Towcester maiden (1m7½f, good) in November. Never really in it when upped in class at Cheltenham last time, but is well up to this grade and should go very close.

Form: 8-11116

Arian⁷²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: T Scudamore| T: J L Flint| OR: 116| BF

3/1

Bangor maiden bumper winner (soft) last season and has gone well in finishing second in both a maiden and a novices' hurdle at Ffos Las (both soft) on her last two starts. Will need to pull out a bit more to win this, but should be very competitive.

Form: 6/51F-22

Kaloci²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: C Gethings⁽³⁾| T: S Edmunds| D

7/2

Has shown steady improvement so far and picked up a Fakenham bumper (good) in November, before a better effort in defeat in a Listed bumper at Huntingdon last time. Nice jumps pedigree and one to check out in the market ahead of her hurdles debut.

Form: 5-313

Samarayia³³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: S Bowen| T: Henry Oliver

9/2

Made the frame on debut in a Worcester bumper (soft) in May and bettered that on her hurdles debut at Exeter (2m2½f, soft) last month, when 8L second. Drop in trip is no real concern and an improved effort could see her in the shake-up.

Form: 392

Silk Run²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: N de Boinville| T: T Lacey

14/1

Made the frame in a Worcester bumper (good to firm) in October and has shown a bit or promise in three outings over hurdles. Bare form so far is not strong enough to win this, so needs to step up on that.

Form: 53667

Forecasts

Spice Girl (13/8), Arian (3/1), Kaloci (7/2), Samarayia (9/2), Silk Run (14/1)

Most of the field has some sort of chance here. Spice Girl sets the standard and would be an obvious choice, but her winning form has been on significantly better ground than this, so it might be worth taking her on with SAMARAYIA. Henry Oliver's mare handles cut well, receives weight from Spice Girl and she can probably improve on her promising hurdles debut. Arian is another potential improver, while Kaloci is a very interesting newcomer who you wouldn't want to rule out.