Christmas Meeting 28th December Book Now Mares' 'National Hunt' Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 12:16 | Winning time: 5m 17.40s

Artemis Kimbo²⁵²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton

7/1

Saint Des Saints mare. Dam unraced, closely related to smart hurdler/top-class chaser (stays 3¼m) Santini. Produced a promising first effort when fourth of 11 in a Chepstow bumper back in March, making smooth headway from rear early in straight. Respected on hurdle debut.

Form: 4-

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Chosen Port³⁸⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Aidan Coleman| T: O Murphy| BF

13/2

Fair bumper performer who was pulled up after losing her action approaching the fourth (found to be lame on left hind) on her Huntingdon hurdling debut a year ago. Clearly capable of better.

Form: 1263/P-

Getaway Lily Bear^t1⁷¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: B S Hughes| T: O Murphy

13/2

£75,000 4-y-o, Getaway mare. Half-sister to fair chaser I'll Be That Lady, stays 21f. Dam unraced half-sister to fairly useful hurdler/useful chaser (stays 21f) Theo. Runner-up only start in Irish points (Dec 2020). Wears tongue strap.

Form: 2/

Houi Cherie¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams

6/5

Showed fair form in bumpers and offered plenty to work on starting out over hurdles after 8 months off when second of 16 in a Hereford maiden (19.7f) 16 days ago, not knocked about. Will improve.

Form: 636-2

I Giorni^t1³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Ben Godfrey⁽³⁾| T: A J Honeyball| BF

22/1

Arcadio mare. Sister to fairly useful hurdler/chaser Justmemyselfandi. Successful on her only start in Irish points but failed to see her race out after looking a threat in a Chepstow bumper 36 days ago. Tongue strap applied for hurdle debut.

Form: 1-7

Kraqueline³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Adam Wedge| T: Kerry Lee

4/1

Showed fair form when reaching the frame in a couple of bumpers and probably ran to a similar level sent hurdling after 8 months off when fifth at Ffos Las (15.8f) 39 days ago. Upped in trip.

Form: 42-5

Police Academy^h³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: J J Burke| T: O Sherwood

18/1

Point winner who showed some ability switched to Rules (in a hood) when fifth of 14 in Chepstow bumper (2m) 36 days ago, staying on gradually. Longer trip ought to suit now hurdling.

Form: 1-5

Forecasts

Houi Cherie (6/5), Kraqueline (4/1), Getaway Lily Bear (13/2), Chosen Port (13/2), Artemis Kimbo (7/1), Police Academy (18/1), I Giorni (22/1)

HOUI CHERIE was no match for an impressive recruit from the Irish pointing field on her hurdling debut at Hereford 16 days ago, but value for a greater margin over the rest and is selected to go one better with improvement on the cards. Chosen Port is well worth another chance having lost her action approaching the fourth on her debut in this sphere at Huntingdon a year ago, while the well-bred Artemis Kimbo also needs taking seriously following an encouraging bumper debut at Chepstow.