Think Smart At Vertem Mares' Novices' Hurdle

4YO plus | Class 4 | 2m 46y | 6 Runners | Turf

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Harry Bannister| T: M & D Easterby

Both of her Flat wins came on the AW (Southwell & Wolverhampton); weakened from halfway and eventually pulled-up on hurdles debut (28-1) at Wetherby (2m3½f, soft) on Boxing Day.

Form: 12-P

Dora De Janeiro¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: J Kington| T: S G West

Placed on debut in a Carlisle bumper; ran respectably on hurdles debut (fourth) at the same track recently - beaten 15½L by Goobinator; will become more interesting once introduced to handicaps.

Form: 34

Movin'on Up³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Aaron Anderson⁽⁷⁾| T: D Thompson

Point winner (May 2019); has struggled under rules for Keith Dalgleish (0-3) and moved on cheaply (£3,000) last month; look elsewhere.

Form: 1606

Picking Peaches⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: William Shanahan⁽⁷⁾| T: R M Smith

Shantou mare; has shown no worthwhile form to date; finished a never dangerous seventh of 12 (200-1) to Cheddleton at Kelso (2m½f, heavy) latest.

Form: P7

Stainsby Girl³³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Callum Whillans⁽³⁾| T: D W Whillans| OR: 115

Carlisle bumper winner (Dec 2018); comfortably sets the form standard, earning a rating of 115; was beaten 16L by the progressive Clondaw Caitlin here (2m4½f, soft) last month; clearly favoured by dropping back in trip.

Form: 130-223

Wild Polly⁶⁷³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Craig Nichol| T: R Dobbin

Largy point-to-point winner (3m, yielding) in April 2018; moved on not long afterwards for €60,000; makes her belated rules debut for Rose Dobbin (stable were troubled by a mystery virus last season); of interest.

Form: U1/

Forecasts

Stainsby Girl (4/7), Wild Polly (7/2), Dora De Janeiro (6/1), Aphaea (12/1), Picking Peaches (33/1), Movin'on Up (66/1)

Wild Polly makes her belated rules debut for Rose Dobbin and she makes some appeal against fairly exposed rivals. However, the form standard is set by the 115-rated STAINSBY GIRL and it'll come as a major surprise if she can't convert such a suitable winning opportunity. With the benefit of race fitness on her side, she also promises to be favoured by dropping back in trip (to 2m).