12:30 Warwick

Friday 31 December 2021

All12:0012:3013:0513:4014:1514:4515:15

Poundland Foundation British Stallion Studs EBF Mares' 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 12:35 | Winning time: 5m 33.23s

Love Envoi^t²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: J J Burke| T: H Fry| D

6/4

Wexford bumper winner who made a winning start for new yard in a 20.5f Leicester maiden hurdle 4 weeks ago. Should have more to come and can make a bold bid to defy penalty.

Form: 1-1

Brandisova¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Bryony Frost| T: L Wadham

18/1

Only minor promise in a bumper and 2 hurdles and will need to up her game to get heavily involved.

Form: 9-48

Do You Think²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: Miss E C Lavelle

12/1

Won a Bangor bumper in May but beaten 32½ lengths when sixth to Love Envoi on her Leicester hurdle debut at the start of the month. Should do better but plenty of improvement needed to go close.

Form: 7-16

Gentle Connections⁴⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton

9/4

13/2, promising first effort when third of 8 in 2½m novice hurdle at Uttoxeter (good to soft) on debut 40 days ago. In top hands and should progress.

Form: 3

Harry's Hottie³⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Adrian Heskin| T: H WhittingtonWS

14/1

Runner-up both starts in Irish points. Faded into fifth on her 19.5f Lingfield hurdle debut 36 days ago. Has subsequently undergone a wind operation. Capable of better.

Form: 22-5

Head And Heart²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: M G Nolan| T: P Hobbs & J White

11/1

Only sixth in a bumper in October but proved suited by a longer trip and ran to a fair level when second in a 21f Wincanton novice hurdle 29 days ago. Thereabouts with repeat.

Form: 2-62

Set In The West²³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: N F Houlihan⁽³⁾| T: R Rowe

50/1

Point winner at second attempt in March but hasn't offered enough in a pair of mares' novice hurdles this winter to be positive about her prospects here.

Form: P1-P6

Walk In My Shoes^t1⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill

11/2

Runner-up sole start in Irish points in October 2020. Needed experience when 12 lengths third of 6 on her 2m Uttoxeter hurdle debut last month. Longer trip now will suit. Also has tongue tie added.

Form: 2-3

Non-Runners

Marsh Wren²⁴

Weight: 10-12| Age: 5

T: S Edmunds J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Love Envoi (6/4), Gentle Connections (9/4), Marsh Wren (5/2), Walk In My Shoes (11/2), Head And Heart (11/1), Do You Think (12/1), Harry's Hottie (14/1), Brandisova (18/1), Set In The West (50/1)

LOVE ENVOI is fancied to defy a penalty and stretch her unbeaten record to 3. Dan Skelton's Gentle Connections should have more to offer on the back of her promising opening effort at Uttoxeter and is feared most ahead of Fontwell runner-up Marsh Wren.