Visit attheraces.com Mares' Novices' Hurdle (NHMOPS Bonus Race)

Off time: 13:15 | Winning time: 4m 17.1s

Magen's Moon²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr P York⁽⁵⁾| T: P York| OR: 103| D

28/1

Has thrived since joining Phil York but came unstuck in her hat-trick bid at Hereford (2m, soft) three weeks ago, and faces a stiff task here under a double penalty.

Form: F96118

Early Morning Rain³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Page Fuller⁽³⁾| T: Jamie Snowden

30/100

Fair bumper performer (Plumpton winner); off the mark over hurdles at the first attempt when beating Deja Vue by 7L at Fontwell (2m1½f, soft); found a Listed contest to be over competitive at Newbury on Saturday; sets the form standard.

Form: 7215-16

Into The Mist⁴¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: Kielan Woods| T: Miss J S Davis

66/1

Black Sam Bellamy filly; made an inauspicious start to her hurdles career when finishing a tailed-off tenth of 14 (100-1) at Worcester (2m, good to soft) in October.

Form: 75-0

Rose Of Aghaboe²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: James Davies| T: N J Gifford| D

9/2

Point winner (3m, Ballyragget); sprung a major surprise (40-1) when winning a Warwick bumper (2m, good to soft) on debut for Nick Gifford; switches to hurdling at a realistic level; chance.

Form: 9PF1-1

Sarasota^p³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: Fergus Gillard⁽⁷⁾| T: Mark Gillard| OR: 87

80/1

14-race maiden (0-3 over hurdles); was beaten when falling at the second last (100-1) at Taunton (2m, good) in October; others have significantly more potential for the future.

Form: 35F

Sparky Valentine⁴⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: Lizzie Kelly⁽³⁾| T: Mrs J Williams| OR: 107

8/1

Placed in a Newbury bumper (1m4½f, soft) last December; hasn't kicked on over hurdles, running to a similar level of form on both starts this season - beaten 20L (fifth of ten) by Vienna Court in a Ffos Las maiden (2m, soft) latest.

Form: 38-65

Tarks Hill⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Daniel Sansom⁽³⁾| T: J W Mullins

50/1

Progressed without managing to win a bumper, finishing almost 16L third to Docte Dina at Southwell (1m7½f, good to soft) in June; finished in the mid-division (made some late headway) on hurdles debut at Fontwell.

Form: 78-537

Forecasts

Early Morning Rain (30/100), Rose Of Aghaboe (9/2), Sparky Valentine (8/1), Magen's Moon (28/1), Tarks Hill (50/1), Into The Mist (66/1), Sarasota (80/1)

EARLY MORNING RAIN sets the clear form standard and assuming that she's none the worse for her exertions in a Listed contest at Newbury on Saturday (sixth of eight to Floressa) she ought to take the world of beating in this much less competitive affair. Furthermore, extra confidence can be gained from the fact that her trainer Jamie Snowden has made an absolutely flying start to the season (particularly with his hurdlers). Her main danger appears to be the Warwick bumper winner Rose Of Aghaboe for the locally-based handler Nick Gifford.