Mandarina Mares' Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:44 | Winning time: 4m 7.5s

Nifty Getaway⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: G Sheehan| T: A Watson| D

15/2

Fair bumper winner who made a successful debut over hurdles after 6 months off at Newton Abbot (16.8f) last week, having run of race. That was a weak event, but she's entitled to progress.

Form: P/F319-1

Agent Of Fortune³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Brendan Powell| T: A Carson

50/1

Modest Flat winner (stays 1¼m) who was too free sent hurdling in her usual cheekpieces at Worcester in July. Headgear left off this time.

Form: 6

Autumn Return¹⁷⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: B S Hughes| T: Ruth Jefferson

4/1

Fame And Glory mare. Half-sister to fairly useful hurdler Ferrobin. Off mark in Irish points at the third attempt and put that experience to good use switched to a bumper at Ayr in April, quickening to lead approaching final 1f and just holding on. Must respected on hurdle debut.

Form: 3/F11-

Kingston Sunflower^h⁵⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Jack Hogan⁽⁷⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 98

11/2

Fair maiden at best on Flat in France who is going the right way over hurdles despite proving headstrong, collared only in the final 50 yds over C&D in July. Takes on a couple of interesting recruits from the bumper sphere here but should give them something to think about.

Form: P32

Mullenbeg^h¹⁶³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Mitchell Bastyan| T: M F Harris| BF| D

8/13

Placed both starts in points, then easily won her first two bumper outings, including a listed event at Cheltenham. No match for an impressive newcomer there on final outing but still rates a good hurdling prospect.

Form: 3/21142-

Copper Vale⁷⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Kevin Jones| T: M F Harris

80/1

Just poor form in a brace of bumpers, so looks firmly up against it on this switch to hurdles.

Form: 75

Forecasts

Mullenbeg (8/13), Autumn Return (4/1), Kingston Sunflower (11/2), Nifty Getaway (15/2), Agent Of Fortune (50/1), Copper Vale (80/1)

MULLENBEG showed more than enough in bumpers last season (listed winner on second outing) to suggest a race of this nature over hurdles should be a formality. Autumn Return is much respected having made a successful bumper debut at Ayr in April, while Kingston Sunflower is steadily going the right way and can prove best of the rest.