Yorkshire Christmas Meeting Mares' Novices' Hurdle (NHMOPS Bonus Race)

Off time: 12:00 | Winning time: 5m 0.10s

Coded Message¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Harry Skelton| T: B I Case| OR: 122

5/1

Sluiced up at Lingfield (2m, heavy) last time, for which she carries a penalty. Despite the ease of her win, it was only a minor improvement on her previous efforts. Respected, but will find it tougher under a penalty.

Form: 7634-31

Madam Cloud¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Henry Brooke| T: T D Easterby

16/1

Making steady improvement, though was still last of five at Hexham recently More needed to break her rules duck.

Form: 3-1045

Mega Yeats³⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: Ruth Jefferson

2/5

Point-to-point and bumper winner who produced the best piece of form on offer here when runner-up in a Cheltenham Listed event last month. Acts on soft and should take a bit of beating.

Form: 112

Rosey²⁷⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Craig Nichol| T: R Dobbin

50/1

Didn't get competitive in a Carlisle bumper in March. Looks one to watch on her hurdles debut.

Form: 8-

Storm Goddess⁴¹

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

6/1

Improved on her bumper form when 8L third at Ludlow (good) on her hurdles debut last month. Likely to be more to come and it would not surprise to see her go close.

Form: 5543

Terminal One^h²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Harry Reed⁽³⁾| T: T Reed

100/1

Third in a Sedgefield bumper for Stuart Crawford in March, but has shown nothing in two starts over hurdles for this trainer.

Form: 3-69

Forecasts

Mega Yeats (2/5), Coded Message (5/1), Storm Goddess (6/1), Madam Cloud (16/1), Rosey (50/1), Terminal One (100/1)

The ease with which Coded Message won last time was eyecatching, but she will have her work cut out to defy a penalty and see off MEGA YEATS, whose Listed run last time is the pick of the form here and she is the suggestion. Storm Goddess is another potentially nice mare and looks the pick of the remainder.