12:55 Wincanton

Thursday 26 December 2019

All12:2012:5513:2514:0014:3515:1015:45

Fry's Electrical Mares' Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 13:02 | Winning time: 3m 51.80s

Kissesforkatie²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Nick Scholfield| T: J Scott| OR: 122| C

11/4

Testing ground could bring her stamina into play but drops back 6f following win here last time. 6lb penalty also makes life difficulty but is the only previous hurdles winner in the field so has to be respected.

Form: 46-2341

Balladame³²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: C Brace⁽³⁾| T: T R George

50/1

Placed in two Ffos Las bumpers prior to weakening 2 out on hurdles bow at Uttoxeter last month on first start for five months. Should strip fitter and better effort not ruled out.

Form: 237

Daphne Du Clos^t1¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: James Bowen| T: N J Henderson

13/8

Won Listed bumper in February 2017 then absent two years prior to fifth on hurdles bow at Huntingdon in January. Not seen again until decent fourth at Sandown recently. Big chance if building on that in first-time tongue-tie.

Form: 121/5-4

Lily The Pink³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: Rex Dingle⁽³⁾| T: A J Honeyball| BF

16/1

Won Stratford bumper for previous handler in 2018 and was second in Fontwell bumper this March on debut for current yard. Shown signs of ability in two starts so far over hurdles. Stable in fine form so worth noting any positive market move.

Form: 1/612-45

Lisa De Vassy⁴³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: Bryony Frost| T: P F Nicholls

14/1

Won two and Listed placed in three starts on Flat in France. Pulled up on debut for champion trainer at Fakenham in October 2018 where found to have burst blood vessel. Promising fourth of 16 at Exeter last month on first start for a year.

Form: P-4

Precious Eleanor³²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: L Heard| T: H D Daly| OR: 116

16/1

Finished third in two hurdles at Uttoxeter this season. Every chance 2 out latest before fading on the run-in. This looks tougher but bold show cannot be ruled out.

Form: 8-33

Principia¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: Lee Edwards| T: A West

150/1

Regressive maiden at up to 1m4f on Flat for a variety of handlers. Beaten a long way both starts so far over hurdles and hard to see her getting involved at this level.

Form: 97

Singapore Saga⁴³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Hobbs & J White

33/1

Ran with some credit on both bumper starts without troubling the judge and out of luck on hurdles debut at Exeter where pulled hard and saddle slipped and duly pulled up before fourth. Needs to settle this time.

Form: 6-6P

Tarks Hill²³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: Kevin Jones⁽³⁾| T: J W Mullins

100/1

Placed in Southwell bumper this summer and has hinted at a little ability in two starts over timber so far. Much more needed here and looks type to do better once she goes handicapping.

Form: 78-5374

Urban Artist⁴⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: Brendan Powell| T: H Morrison

9/1

Showed promise in two bumpers last season. Won Ludlow bumper on first start this campaign then followed up in style in Listed Cheltenham bumper last time. Hurdles bow here for yard in form and looks exciting prospect.

Form: 74-11

Whatcolourishe^h,t²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: Kieran Burke

150/1

Mares maiden point winner in Ireland but hasn't done much since and has run badly all three starts since undergoing wind surgery in September. Very hard to fancy.

Form: 1-76PP0

Whitehotchillifili⁶⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: S Bowen| T: H Fry| BF

3/1

Promising start last December winning Southwell bumper on debut. Ran creditably in defeat in three subsequent bumpers, including at Grade 2 level. Favourite and third on hurdles bow at Ffos Las in October where lost three of four shoes. Interesting.

Form: 1249-3

Non-Runners

White Chocolate¹⁴³

Weight: 10-10| Age: 5

T: J W Mullins J: Daniel Sansom

Forecasts

Daphne Du Clos (13/8), Kissesforkatie (11/4), Whitehotchillifili (3/1), Urban Artist (9/1), Lisa De Vassy (14/1), Precious Eleanor (16/1), Lily The Pink (16/1), White Chocolate (16/1), Singapore Saga (33/1), Balladame (50/1), Tarks Hill (100/1), Principia (150/1), Whatcolourishe (150/1)

This may turn out to be a decent event. Paul Nicholls has won it for the last two years and is represented by Lisa De Vassy, a filly who showed plenty of promise last time at Exeter. She should be in the thick of the action but preference is for DAPHNE DU CLOS who has been very lightly raced but shaped nicely at Sandown recently and now has a tongue-tie on to help her cause. Both Whitehotchillifili and Lily the Pink are worth looking at, while Urban Artist is a very serious contender bringing the best bumper form to the table. Kissesforkatie faces a stiff task back in trip under her penalty.