14:00 Newbury

Wednesday 20 January 2021

All12:5513:2514:0014:3015:0515:3516:05

British EBF Mares' 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 14:00 | Winning time: 5m 21.7s

Little River Bay⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 128

5/2

Left last season's hurdle debut behind when scoring in good style at Wincanton (2m) in November. Followed up over 19f at Fontwell 19 days later and likely to go well again despite the double penalty.

Form: 53-11

Aurelia Or³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Ben Jones⁽³⁾| T: Miss E C Lavelle

13/2

Stepped up on hurdle debut when third over 21f at Ludlow 35 days ago. Potential for better again but it likely will be required.

Form: 653

Blarney Bateleur^h1²²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: James Best| T: A Irvine

50/1

Showed ability in a couple of outings last month but it's likely she's more one for handicaps further down the line. Hooded first time here.

Form: 1/88

Buttsbury Lady⁶⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Aidan Coleman| T: N J Henderson| BF

11/1

Yet to go on from a winning debut in a bumper but showed up well long way when fourth on Uttoxeter hurdle debut. Should improve from that but Hamilton's Fantasy looks yard first string.

Form: 154

Caught Inthe Slips⁵⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: David Bass| T: H Whittington

150/1

16/1, hinted at ability when eighth of 12 in 19.5f Lingfield novice hurdle on debut in November but will need to leave that well behind to play a prominent role here.

Form: 8

Colours Of My Life⁶⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Alexander Thorne⁽⁵⁾| T: A King

50/1

Showed plenty to work on when fifth in course bumper last February. Disappointed at Cheltenham on her comeback run, but still appeals as the type to relish this longer trip switched to hurdling.

Form: 5-9

Courtly Love^t³⁴⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: James Davies| T: O SignyWS

250/1

Placed in points but tailed off in a bumper on sole Rules start. Had wind surgery ahead of this hurdle debut for a new trainer.

Form: P52/28B-

Dorisa Queen⁷⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: G Sheehan| T: W GreatrexWS

200/1

Has offered little in a pair of bumpers, so hard to make a case for now attentions are turned to hurdling after wind op.

Form: 90

Drumlee Getaway³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: C Gethings| T: S Edmunds

125/1

Winner of sole start between the flags but has made a low-key start to Rules career in a bumper/novice hurdles.

Form: 1-667

Feodora³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Jamie Bargary| T: O Sherwood

200/1

Runner-up in a point. Still going well when slipping up in Stratford bumper in May 2019 but no impact in a bumper and 2 hurdles since.

Form: 2U8P-6

Hamilton's Fantasy⁶⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson

11/4

Bred to be useful and made a promising start when second in Ascot bumper in November. Likely to have a big say on hurdle debut for a top yard which took this race 12 months ago.

Form: 2

Lady In Hiding⁴³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: D A Jacob| T: O SherwoodWS

13/2

Reached the frame in all 3 bumpers in 2019, including third in a listed. Been absent for 14 months (had wind op) but ought to be up to making her presence felt at this level if taking to hurdles.

Form: 4/33-

Shirocco's Dream³²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: H Cobden| T: C L Tizzard

9/2

£260,000 purchase after getting off the mark in Irish points at second attempt last March. Clearly an interesting runner, particularly if the market vibes are strong.

Form: 21-

Sound Of Music²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: R T Dunne| T: Noel Williams

150/1

Has shown ability in bumpers/novice hurdles but more one the longer term.

Form: 45-66

Tequila Blaze²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien

11/1

Left bumper form well behind when runner-up in a novice hurdle at Lingfield in November but ran no sort of race when pulled up at Wetherby the following month.

Form: 3/54F-2P

Non-Runners

Mad About Sally⁵⁹

Weight: 11-0| Age: 6

T: O Signy J: Non Runner

Mrs Doubtfire⁷⁶

Weight: 11-0| Age: 7

T: Ian Williams J: J E Moore

Phillapa Sue⁹⁹

Weight: 11-0| Age: 6

T: D Killahena & G McPherson J: Kielan Woods

Forecasts

Little River Bay (5/2), Hamilton's Fantasy (11/4), Shirocco's Dream (9/2), Aurelia Or (13/2), Lady In Hiding (13/2), Phillapa Sue (10/1), Tequila Blaze (11/1), Buttsbury Lady (11/1), Mad About Sally (33/1), Colours Of My Life (50/1), Blarney Bateleur (50/1), Mrs Doubtfire (66/1), Drumlee Getaway (125/1), Sound Of Music (150/1), Caught Inthe Slips (150/1), Feodora (200/1), Dorisa Queen (200/1), Courtly Love (250/1)

HAMILTON'S FANTASY looked a useful prospect when second in a bumper at Ascot in November and can provide Nicky Henderson with a second successive winner of this race. Little River Bay is respected as a dual winner but it won't be that easy to concede 12 lb all round and it would be no surprise if the main threat came from expensive Irish point recruit Shirocco's Dream.