15:20 Newcastle

Saturday 23 February 2019

All13:3514:1014:4015:2015:5516:3017:05

Think Smart At Vertem Mares' Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 15:20 | Winning time: 4m 6.08s

Lust For Glory⁸⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: James Bowen| T: N J Henderson| OR: 134| D

1/8

Decent mare who beat Posh Trish on hurdling bow at Newbury in November before finishing second to same horse in a listed event there in December. Returns from 84-day break but sets a good standard and should prove hard to beat.

Form: 13-112

Fig's Pride^h¹¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Grant Cockburn⁽³⁾| T: N W Alexander

33/1

Stowaway mare who showed little in three bumpers and again on hurdles bow last time at Kelso when soon beaten. Hard to fancy.

Form: 067-7

Lady Kyria⁴⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Thomas Dowson⁽³⁾| T: P A Kirby

9/2

Won three times at up to 1m4f in France before joining current connections this winter. Fell final flight when close third on hurdles bow at Catterick in December, then disappointing third of 5 over 2m4f at Ayr latest. Drop back in trip should help.

Form: F3

Mega Double⁵³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Sean Quinlan| T: James Moffatt

7/1

Not much promsie on Rules bow when sixth of 8 in Catterick bumper, but did much better on hurdles debut at same track on New Year's Day, finishing respectable runner-up. Should stay further but has tough task here.

Form: P262

Missesgeejay⁷³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: Sam Coltherd⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs Stella Barclay

18/1

Very lightlly raced mare who was second in Bangor bumper four years ago for Richard Ford. Shaped with some promise when seventh at Leicester in December on first start for 31 months and may pick up a race in due course. Much more needed here though.

Form: 92445/7

Our Cilla¹²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: J Kington| T: A Crook

25/1

2-10 on Flat turf, both wins coming over 1m6f for Julia Feilden. Sold for £7,500 in December and makes hurdles bow for new yard here. Yard hasn't had a winner for well over two years so appears to face a very stiff task.

Form:

Quiet Penny²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Joe Williamson⁽⁷⁾| T: G Boanas

50/1

Hinted at a modicum of ability in first two bumpers but has shown precious little in final bumper and on hurdles bow here last month when distant 13th of 15.

Form: 5880

Stormy Reception²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Callum Bewley| T: C Grant

100/1

Tailed off when pulled up on only two starts so far and very hard to see her finding the necessary massive improvement to play a significant role in this contest.

Form: PP

Summer Lightening²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: C O'Farrell| T: Kenneth Slack| D

20/1

Yard has impressive 23% strike rate over jumps over the last five years. Landed Newcastle bumper on racecourse debut before two disappointing subsequent runs in that sphere, then jumped stickily and was soon beaten on jumps bow here last month.

Form: 1-950

Forecasts

Lust For Glory (1/8), Lady Kyria (9/2), Mega Double (7/1), Missesgeejay (18/1), Summer Lightening (20/1), Our Cilla (25/1), Fig's Pride (33/1), Quiet Penny (50/1), Stormy Reception (100/1)

It's very hard to look any further than southern raider LUST FOR GLORY whose winning form and listed placed form is head and shoulders above that of her rivals. With a clear round she will be very hard to beat. Back at thist trip Lady Kyria may come out best of the rest, while Mega Double and Summer Lightening are others who may well be involved in the race for the places.