starsports.bet Mares' Novices' Hurdle (NHMOPS Bonus Race)

4YO plus | Class 4 | 2m | 8 Runners | Turf

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Kielan Woods| T: B I Case| OR: 118| CD

Sluiced up over C&D in December and perhaps found 2m3½f at Wetherby on Boxing Day too far when beaten 26L into third of six. Chance of better back down in trip, despite conceding 6lb to most of these.

Form: 634-313

Etamine Du Cochet¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 115

Confirmed the promise of early form when scoring on fifth start at Huntingdon (2m4½f, good) this month. Has the speed for this 2m trip, though must improve in bid to concede penalty now.

Form: 2-22P1

Destinee Royale²⁷⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Aidan Coleman| T: Miss V Williams| DWS

Balko mare, bred for jumping and cost a healthy £56,000 as a three-year-old. Given plenty of time to mature before winning bumper debut at Towcester in April, returns for hurdling debut off break and one to be interested in.

Form: 1-

Eos⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: M Goldstein| T: Mrs D Grissell

Irish import who was tailed off on jumping/stable debut at this track in November and met similar fate next time at Fontwell, both runs over 2m3½f. Not an obvious contender dropping in trip.

Form: 095

Scarlet Couture³⁴⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Joshua Moore| T: G & J Moore

Nice pedigree, and is a half-sister to the useful chaser Alfie Spinner. However, tailed off behind the field in an Ascot bumper in February 2018 on sole outing, so caution must be advised here unless market vibes suggest otherwise.

Form: 9-

Westerner Ocean^t1⁶³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: M G Nolan| T: Alexandra Dunn

Has taken the runner-up slot on three of her four point-to-point starts, though not seen in that sphere since May 2017. The long absence and the fact that this is her rules debut temper enthusiasm.

Form: 222/5-

Witches Glen¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: N F Houlihan⁽⁷⁾| T: P Phelan

Had plenty of experience in Irish point-to-points (placed three times), though she's twice been well beaten around Plumpton since joining these connections and therefore has plenty to prove at this stage.

Form: F-43264

Foxy's Spirit⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-1| J: Harry Reed⁽³⁾| T: Joanne Thomason-Murphy

Moderate maiden on the Flat and two outings over timber at Doncaster and Warwick don't suggest change in fortune is beckoning in this sphere.

Form: 89

Forecasts

Destinee Royale (2/1), Coded Message (5/2), Etamine Du Cochet (5/2), Scarlet Couture (10/1), Witches Glen (14/1), Westerner Ocean (14/1), Eos (50/1), Foxy's Spirit (66/1)

The top three on the card appear most likely to scrap this out. Coded Message possibly achieved nothing out of the ordinary when easily winning over C&D on heavy going in December and, well beaten over further since at Wetherby, is asked a tougher question back down to 2m. Dan Skelton's Etamine Du Cochet was off the mark at Huntingdon last time and merits a very close look here but, with that pair spotting her 6lb, DESTINEE ROYALE may be able to give in-form Aidan Coleman another win. Venetia Williams' charge is bred for jumping and had a pair of subsequent dual winner behind when landing a bumper at Towcester in April on her only sighting. She's favoured on these terms.