Belhaven Best Mares' Novices' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:40 | Winning time: 6m 21.15s

Proper Ticket⁵⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: B S Hughes| T: F O'Brien| OR: 108

5/2

Ludlow stable/hurdles bow had a bit of promise about it over 2m5f on good ground in October but both subsequent efforts have come on soft and less appealing. Questions to answer on this testing surface on that basis.

Form: 213-354

Blossoming Forth⁴⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: Ruth Jefferson| OR: 106

9/2

A £130,000 last year, second start over hurdles was over 2m5f here in December and finished a good third; however, subsequent Newcastle run in January nowhere near as promising and needs to bounce back to previous form.

Form: 10235

Bonny Houxty^t¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Callum Whillans| T: D W Whillans| OR: 106

18/1

Sent off 250-1 on hurdles bow at Carlisle (2m3½f, soft) last month but finished third with 2L of the market leaders; another sound third since at Newcastle over slightly further and should be more on offer over this increasing trip.

Form: FFF-533

Atlantic Dancer²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Bruce Lynn⁽⁷⁾| T: A C Whillans| OR: 106

25/1

Novice/maiden hurdle starts at Newcastle and here (2m5f, soft) haven't been without promise; well held latest in a jumpers' bumper at Newcastle on the AW but should give solid account here without winning.

Form: RP3-347

Raddle And Hum^h⁶⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Craig Nichol| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 105

5/1

25-1 runner-up in a novices' handicap hurdle at Wetherby (2m3½f, soft) on Boxing Day and didn't appear to get home over 3m1f at Catterick since; could fare better now dropping in trip again.

Form: 858424

Chanting Hill¹²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Lucy Alexander| T: N W Alexander| OR: 102

5/1

Milan mare has finished fourth in both starts over hurdles so far, showing some promise; opening handicap mark certainly affords her a chance to be competitive and improvement could be forthcoming.

Form: 1-44

Calle Malva⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Blair Campbell⁽³⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 100

7/2

Won a maiden hurdle at Hexham in December over shorter trip on heavy ground; recent Ayr handicap debut not without promise when finishing less than 10L off the winner and chance of better to come yet.

Form: 4-251P4

Forecasts

Proper Ticket (5/2), Calle Malva (7/2), Blossoming Forth (9/2), Raddle And Hum (5/1), Chanting Hill (5/1), Bonny Houxty (18/1), Atlantic Dancer (25/1)

Proper Ticket is interesting with the champion jockey-elect booked but the forecast ground is a source of concern. RADDLE AND HUM went close over Christmas at Wetherby in a similar event and likely didn't get home since at Catterick. Back down in trip, she gets the nod though both Calle Malva and Chanting Hill are potential improvers.