17:10 Warwick

Friday 21 February 2020

All13:2514:0014:3015:0015:3516:1016:4017:10

British Stallion Studs EBF Mares' Standard Open NH Flat Race

Off time: 17:10 | Winning time: 3m 59.20s

Ballycallan Fame¹¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton

2/1

Newcomer who cost 60,000 after coming second in her only Irish maiden point-to-point (not beaten far in soft/heavy conditions). From a top yard who have a 5-21 record with their debutantes here since 2015; should go well.

Form: 2

Ivy's Shadow³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: S Thomas

50/1

The much-lesser fancied of the two that the yard run in this and hard to see her troubling this field having made very little impact in three previous bumpers. Started at big odds on each outing and likely to do so again here.

Form: 0-07

Lady Shirocco⁵³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: C J Todd⁽⁵⁾| T: Ian Williams

10/1

Improved to win an Irish point-to-point on her second start improving from her initial effort to win by a short-head in December. Bought for 30,000 after that victory she's in good hands for her Rules debut; one to watch in the market.

Form: 61

La Reine Poutine⁵²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: S Thomas

3/1

Sets the standard here having made a promising debut at Uttoxeter in what appeared to be a decent mares' bumper (beaten 2L). Has a decent pedigree; half-sister to five winners; open to further progress, leading claims.

Form: 2

Nada To Prada

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Brendan Powell| T: M Scudamore

11/2

Heavy ground winner of her only Irish point-to-point in early January by 5l she was sold soon after for £65,000. Pedigree reads in a positive manner; half-sister to fairly useful chaser Everlastingpromise with other winning relations; one to note.

Form:

Step To The Top^h⁴⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: L P Aspell| T: Noel Williams

5/1

One of the three to have run previously under Rules she offered plenty to work on from her debut wearing a hood (retained here). Did all her best work at the finish at Ludlow in soft ground; ought to come on for that experience.

Form: 3

Midnight Mary

Age: 4| Weight: 10-3| J: C Gethings| T: S Edmunds

11/2

Stable has a decent strike-rate in bumpers but has yet to have a success this term (0-7) and 1-38 record with newcomers since 2015 hardly inspires. First foal by Midnight Legend out of a hurdle/chase winning mare; best watched for now.

Form:

Non-Runners

Foxy Megan

Weight: 10-12| Age: 6

T: C Gordon J: Tom Cannon

Forecasts

Ballycallan Fame (2/1), La Reine Poutine (3/1), Step To The Top (5/1), Nada To Prada (11/2), Midnight Mary (11/2), Lady Shirocco (10/1), Foxy Megan (10/1), Ivy's Shadow (50/1)

Some useful newcomers here on pedigree and point-to-point form; that should ensure that La Reine Poutine who sets the form standard gets a good test of her credentials. Her experience will be useful but this looks a decent heat and we may get a relative surprise. Ballycallan Flame will have her supporters given her connections but she failed to run in similar conditions on her Newbury debut. Nada To Prada wasn’t a cheap purchase and she catches the eye having already been successful in testing conditions but a tentative vote is given to LADY SHIROCCO who also makes her debut. Her yard aren’t strangers to bumper success and any positive market vibes would provide some extra confidence.