15:25 Catterick

Wednesday 28 December 2022

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

Sky Bet Mares' Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race) (Div 2)

Off time: 15:26 | Winning time: 4m 3.65s

Notnowlinda⁶⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Bridget Andrews| T: D Skelton| D

6/4

Bought for £85,000 after winning her sole Irish point last year and displayed willing attitude when making successful hurdles debut at Warwick. Disappointed in better company since at Cheltenham but it remains early days for her top yard.

Form: 133-17

Billams Legacy^h,t⁷⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Liam Harrison⁽³⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 104| DWS

7/4

Fairly useful bumper winner but has proven headstrong in his starts over hurdles so far, reappearing in a refitted hood at Worcester in October. Tongue tie back on today (also had a wind op) and she holds solid claims in this company.

Form: 0/4352-2

Hannah's Walk⁵⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: James Bowen| T: W Greatrex

66/1

No immediate promise on her introduction in a Warwick bumper a couple of months ago so needs this switch to hurdling to spark her into life.

Form: 0

More Joy^h²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Miss Becky Smith| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 102

80/1

Showed fair form in 3 hurdle starts at Pau for David Cottin, but disappointed on her British debut (for Sophie Leech) at Newton Abbot in June and could hardly have shown any less on both starts for this yard last month.

Form: 464-40

Red Amapola^h1,t1¹⁶³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Jack Power⁽⁷⁾| T: P Neville

100/1

Modest maiden on Flat and has failed to take to hurdling on her first couple of starts in this sphere.

Form: 76

Teasing Georgia⁵⁶⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr

50/1

Bumper winner on debut for Stuart Crawford in 2019, but seemed amiss at Sedgefield 15 months later and has finished well held on both outings over hurdles so far (latest tongue tied after a wind op). Probably best watched returning from 18 months off the track.

Form: 17/07-

Turbulent Power²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Aaron Anderson⁽⁵⁾| T: B Rothwell

14/1

Just poor form in bumpers and on the Flat but showed aptitude for hurdling at the first attempt when fourth at Newcastle (16.2f, soft, 150/1) earlier this month. Step forward needed.

Form: 56-4

Vienna Girl⁴⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Danny McMenamin| T: K Frost| D

5/2

Exceeded market expectations when second on debut in a Southwell bumper in May and proved that to be no fluke when comfortably off the mark at that venue in July. Down the field at Cheltenham on both recent starts and the market can guide expectations on hurdling debut.

Form: 2188

Non-Runners

Au Jus¹⁶⁹

Weight: 11-0| Age: 6

T: M & D Easterby J: Jamie Hamilton

Forecasts

Notnowlinda (6/4), Billams Legacy (7/4), Vienna Girl (5/2), Turbulent Power (14/1), Au Jus (33/1), Teasing Georgia (50/1), Hannah's Walk (66/1), More Joy (80/1), Red Amapola (100/1)

This could develop into a match between BILLAMS LEGACY and Notnowlinda, with preference for the former following a breathing operation/with a tongue tie back on (has been held back by her inability to settle). Dan Skelton's mare made the perfect start over timber at Warwick in October, and with her latest effort easy to excuse, she's sure to give the selection plenty to think about. Vienna Girl and Hannah's Walk can fight out third spot.