12:45 Newbury

Wednesday 19 January 2022

All12:4513:1513:5014:2515:0015:3016:00

British EBF Mares' 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 12:45 | Winning time: 5m 18.10s

Swincombe Fleat³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Aidan Coleman| T: A J Honeyball

4/1

Opened account in bumpers at Fontwell and then an excellent fourth of 16 in listed event at Sandown (heavy). Let opening hurdles run behind when successful at Exeter and there's more to come.

Form: 4140-31

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Tweed Skirt⁶¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 120

9/4

Fair bumper winner who failed to meet expectations on hurdling debut at Uttoxeter (2m). Went with much more zest when landing 3-runner contest at Ascot in November. More to come and now up in trip.

Form: 136-41

Becky The Boo⁵³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien

16/1

Fair winner in bumpers. Yet to match that form over hurdles, though wasn't given a hard time when second at Doncaster in November (19.4f).

Form: 417-352

Bridal Knot⁵⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: James Bowen| T: N J Henderson

25/1

Closely related to top-class chaser Might Bite, and half-sister to smart hurdler/useful chaser Beat That. Dam winning pointer. Wasn't seen to best effect in a messy bumper at Southwell.

Form: 4

Code Name Lise¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Bryony Frost| T: L Wadham

8/1

Opened her account in a bumper at Ascot in February. Matched that form when returning from wind surgery to finish third in listed company in November but low-key hurdles debut needs casting aside.

Form: 217-34

Kings Krackertara³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: James Davies| T: N J Gifford

150/1

Ran green when fourth of 11 in bumper at Warwick (16f, soft) on debut in February. Showed a bit when 24 lengths fourth on 20.5f Leicester hurdles debut but well held at Lingfield since.

Form: 4-47

Lady Stanhow¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Nick Scholfield| T: J G Cann

300/1

Half-sister to 3 winners, including bumper winner/useful hurdler Zulu Oscar and bumper winner Ishkhara Lady. Looks a long-term project.

Form: 4-64

Largy G⁴⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: T J O'Brien| T: Noel Williams| OR: 109

50/1

Ex-pointer who offered encouragement in a brace of hurdling outings at Newton Abbot in the spring. No impact switched to handicap company after 7 months off at Leicester.

Form: 5/32-30

Mad About Sally⁴²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Max Kendrick| T: O Signy

200/1

Califet mare. Half-sister to modest hurdler Stolen Moment. Dam (h109) bumper winner/19f hurdle winner. Placed twice from 3 starts in Irish points in 2020.

Form: 325-

Speech Bubble⁵⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: G Sheehan| T: Noel Williams| BF

6/4

Well backed and made a winning start to her career in bumper at Ffos Las. Excellent second in listed company in March and sure to build on opening runner-up effort over hurdles.

Form: 162-2

Victorias Peak³⁴⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Mitchell Bastyan⁽³⁾| T: M F Harris

25/1

Off the mark in Irish points at fourth attempt. Shaped like a stayer when second in bumper at Plumpton for Fergal O'Brien in December 2020. Not so good 2 months later and has moved yards again.

Form: 223/125-

Wind From The West⁷⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Harry Bannister| T: W Greatrex

100/1

Promise in bumpers and from a good jumps family. Little to get excited about on opening hurdles run but sure to better at some point.

Form: 38-9

Instant De Bonheur¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: Tom Buckley⁽⁵⁾| T: N J Hawke

125/1

Showed more than on debut when fifth at Ffos Las a fortnight ago, though was possible flattered in a steadily-run affair.

Form: 75

Non-Runners

Folly Hill³⁴

Weight: 11-1| Age: 6

T: B Pauling J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Speech Bubble (6/4), Tweed Skirt (9/4), Swincombe Fleat (4/1), Code Name Lise (8/1), Becky The Boo (16/1), Victorias Peak (25/1), Folly Hill (25/1), Bridal Knot (25/1), Largy G (50/1), Wind From The West (100/1), Instant De Bonheur (125/1), Kings Krackertara (150/1), Mad About Sally (200/1), Lady Stanhow (300/1)

SPEECH BUBBLE was well-above average in bumpers and is sure to step up on her opening second over hurdles at Lingfield in November. The 7 lb she receives from previous winners Tweed Skirt and Swincombe Fleat may well prove to be decisive.