Wilmot-Smith Memorial Mares' Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 13:00 | Winning time: 4m 19.76s

Blue Valentine⁶³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Bannister| T: H WhittingtonWS

2/1

Has shown some promise in France prior to joining this trainer. Sent off at just 9-2 for stable debut at Doncaster (2m3½f, good to soft) in December but was on the retreat when falling. Returns after wind surgery and market probably a good guide.

Form: 3F/F

Fleur Du Pommier¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Tom Cannon| T: G C Maundrell

20/1

Showed promise in her final bumper at Southwell (good) in November. Was doing her best work late on at Ludlow on her hurdles debut (2m, soft) last time and could improve for that.

Form: 0-054

Hijran¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: James Davies| T: Henry Oliver

20/1

Won a couple of Flat handicaps over 1m, including on soft. Best of two modest efforts over hurdles so far was on debut at Catterick (soft) last month, but needs a fair bit of improvement to be in the mix today.

Form: 66

Northern Beau¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: R T Dunne| T: M Scudamore

5/1

There can't be too many thoroughbreds who run in a 6f sprint and then win a point-to-point next time, but this mare did so and after a second win between the flags, she ran well at Musselburgh (1m7½f, soft) last month. That was good form in context.

Form: 1-12

Trooblue³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Danny Cook| T: J Parkinson & S Smith

16/1

Improved significantly on her debut bumper at Carlisle when third (beaten 6¾L) at Sedgefield (2m1f, soft) on Boxing Day. With similar improvement here on her hurdling debut she should be a contender.

Form: 83

Shambra^h²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-11| J: Maxime Tissier⁽⁷⁾| T: L Wadham| D

6/5

Goes well on testing ground, having won a 1m3f handicap on the Flat on heavy ground in September and then scored on her hurdles debut at Ludlow (2m, soft) last month. This is tougher under a penalty, but claimer negates that and she should go close.

Form: 1

Forecasts

Shambra (6/5), Blue Valentine (2/1), Northern Beau (5/1), Trooblue (16/1), Hijran (20/1), Fleur Du Pommier (20/1)

Given that she was only allowed to go off at 9-2 at Doncaster in December, Blue Valentine must be reasonably well thought of and she could do better here now dropped in trip after a wind op and for a trainer who won this race two years ago. Trooblue is also of interest on her hurdles debut for a stable that does so consistently well here, while Shambra can make a bold bid for a hat-trick and is feared. However, NORTHERN BEAU also handles this ground, stays well and is taken to improve on her promising Musselburgh hurdles debut and go one better this time.