Watch Sky Sports Racing On Virgin 435 Mares' Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 16:10 | Winning time: 5m 14.80s

Simply Loveleh^t³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 119| BF| D

1/1

Returns to novice company having produced a bleak performance on her handicap debut at Stratford; well-beaten favourite. Had looked a useful prospect in novice grade prior to that winning back-to-back events; could bounce back quickly.

Form: 25-3114

Smart Getaway¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Lewis Stones⁽⁷⁾| T: O Murphy| OR: 110| BF| CD

1/1

Confirmed the promise of her hurdling debut when on her first outing for this yard she scored readily over C&D. Back down in trip last time to 2m she failed to carry a penalty when a long-odds on favourite; should be suited by a return to 2m4f.

Form: 64/32-12

Ballinamona Flyer¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: C J Todd⁽⁷⁾| T: A Phillips

50/1

0-8 in Irish point-to-points (has been placed); beaten 46L on her first foray under Rules over hurdles. Achieved very little in that outing, would need to find massive improvement to unsettle the big two players.

Form: P5-32P8

Princess Nearco⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Billy Garritty⁽⁵⁾| T: L Bailey

16/1

Ordinary Flat performer (1-18) making very little impact in two start for this yard after leaving Lawrence Mullaney. Hurdling debut; half-sister to 4 winners, including useful hurdler Lindenhurst (2m/2m1f winner); market clues useful.

Form:

Forecasts

Smart Getaway (1/1), Simply Loveleh (1/1), Princess Nearco (16/1), Ballinamona Flyer (50/1)

Half of the quartet that make up the field would have to show improvement to get involved especially as Princess Nearco is making her hurdling debut and Ballinamona Flyer would be required to make a huge improvement on her hurdling debut. Therefore this boils down to a match between two mares who have winning form but both disappointed last time to a certain extent. Smart Getaway would have found the 2m too sharp last time but the stable are winless since her C&D win over obstacles. That just tips the scales in the direction of SIMPLY LOVELEH despite her stable hardly being in stunning form either despite giving weight away current handicap ratings suggest she should just be able to do so.