14:48 Catterick

Wednesday 28 December 2022

All11:5312:2813:0313:3814:1314:4815:25

Sky Bet Mares' Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race) (Div 1)

Off time: 14:51 | Winning time: 4m 2.82s

Autumn Return³²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Callum Bewley| T: Ruth Jefferson| OR: 110| D

15/8

Landed a bumper at Ayr in the spring and created a good impression when following up on Market Rasen hurdle debut (16.6f) in September. Unable to kick on from that success however, up against it in listed company at Newbury a month ago. Should get back on track.

Form: F11-146

Bents Hollow³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| D

10/3

Successful on second of 2 starts between the flags in Ireland and readily landed the odds on Rules debut in a 3-runner novice hurdle at Musselburgh (15.6f, soft) last month. Surely better to come, this run is likely to reveal more about her capabilities.

Form: 511

Comedaygoday⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Ross Chapman| T: Lizzie Quinlan| OR: 107

16/1

Lightly-raced ex-Irish maiden hurdler. Not unbacked when well beaten in Cartmel mares' novice in June but again failed to make an impact on return/handicap debut at Hexham 6 weeks ago.

Form: 433-55

Emily Wade^h1⁶¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Tom Midgley⁽⁵⁾| T: S England

100/1

Just modest form at best in bumpers and made an inauspicious start over hurdles at Wetherby 2 months ago, unseating rider having jumped badly left second. Has since moved yards and headgear goes on.

Form: 444U

Malaita⁶⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Alex Edwards⁽³⁾| T: Mrs M Rowley| OR: 108| D

11/8

Bumper winner in May 2021 and reached the frame on 4 of her 5 starts over hurdles last season. Shaped as if in need of her reappearance at Bangor in October and she should go well in this company.

Form: 24623-6

Midnight Shuffle⁴⁶⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Sam Coltherd| T: W Coltherd| D

14/1

Finished placed both starts in points and stepped up on her Rules debut on first start for this yard when winning bumper at Kelso (16.2f, good to firm) 15 months ago. One to look out for on hurdles debut, especially if market support arrives.

Form: 33/71-

Milltown Lily²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Aidan Macdonald⁽¹⁰⁾| T: Micky Hammond

80/1

Modest maiden handicapper on Flat, stays 1¼m. Ran below that level sent hurdling at Sedgefield last month so best watched.

Form: 5

She's A Steal²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Craig Nichol| T: R Dobbin

125/1

Modest in bumpers for Tim Reed and looks a longer-term project over hurdles judged on her first couple of outings in this sphere.

Form: 305-70

Wedding Stress^h³⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Jonathan England| T: Samantha & Jacqueline Coward

150/1

Not disgraced on bumper debut at Kelso in September but beaten a long way in 3 starts since (including twice over hurdles). Easy to oppose.

Form: 4838

Forecasts

Malaita (11/8), Autumn Return (15/8), Bents Hollow (10/3), Midnight Shuffle (14/1), Comedaygoday (16/1), Milltown Lily (80/1), Emily Wade (100/1), She's A Steal (125/1), Wedding Stress (150/1)

It's unsure as to what exactly BENTS HOLLOW achieved when landing the odds in a small-field novice at Musselburgh last month but he couldn't have done it much more impressively so, with improvement on the cards, Donald McCain's charge looks the one to side with. Midnight Shuffle made a winning start for Stuart Coltherd 15 months ago and she looks the main danger to the selection on hurdling debut, with Malaita rounding off the shortlist.