12:10 Newbury

Saturday 31 December 2022

All12:1012:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:35

Play Coral 'Racing-Super-Series' For Free Mares' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 12:10 | Winning time: 4m 5.1s

Perfect Myth^t²²

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: James Bowen| T: W S Kittow| OR: 123| D

50/1

Won 3 times for Neil King in 2020/21 campaign but disappointed in 2 hurdle runs last season. Runner-up twice at a modest level on the Flat for present yard and she never made much impact back over hurdles at Cheltenham (16.8f) 3 weeks ago.

Form: 34P/P0-7

Grivetana³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-13| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 122| D

11/10

Winner of her sole start in France and quickly improved for present yard, again finding only one too good over C&D 5 weeks ago. Present mark looks within reach and she's high on the shortlist.

Form: 1414-22

Midnight Ginger³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: J Martin⁽⁷⁾| T: Andrew Martin| OR: 118| C| D

8/1

Consistent mare who showed a willing attitude to gain fourth career success at Chepstow (19.5f) in April. Typically given her running both starts since, third back from 7 months off at Wincanton (15.2f) 4 weeks ago. Sound each-way claims again.

Form: 2231-23

Amelia's Dance^h¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Bryan Carver| T: R Walford| OR: 116| D

7/1

Consistent sort scored twice at Taunton (16.5f) last winter and, having ran with credit initially this term, proved better than ever to resume winning ways back at that venue 10 days ago. Respected despite career-high mark.

Form: 44-3341

Lime Drop⁶⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: T J O'Brien| T: H D Daly| OR: 114| D

16/1

Most progressive mare during 2021/22, gaining fifth success of the campaign at Hereford (2m) in March. Looked rusty when eighth of 9 back from 6 months off at Bangor (19.5f) in October and certainly not one to be writing off from this sort of mark.

Form: 11214-8

Petticoat Lucy⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Harry Skelton| T: J Scott| OR: 110

9/2

Landed a mares' novice hurdle at Wincanton (15.2f) this time last year. Possibly amiss given how she checked out next 2 starts but back on track (following 7 months off) when fourth in an Exeter handicap (18.5f) in November. Eased 2 lb subsequently.

Form: 6/31P8-4

Heure De Gloire^b,t¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 102| D

12/1

Signed off last term with success at Ffos Las (15.8f) in March and not disgraced from easing mark in recent weeks, again seeming to have forcing tactics overdone when well held second at Lingfield (2m) 10 days ago. Up in class now.

Form: 1-P4362

Lady Pacifico^p⁵⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-4| J: G Sheehan| T: D Weston| OR: 99| D

50/1

Made a winning start over hurdles at Leicester (15.5f) 13 months ago but record has been distinctly patchy since, labouring some way out and ultimately pulled up at Exeter (21.6f) early on last month. Eased 4 lb since but others make more appeal.

Form: 8495-6P

Lady Gwen⁴⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-4| J: J E Moore| T: Mrs J Williams| OR: 99

17/2

Lightly-raced filly who ran up to previous best over hurdles when runner-up in mares' novice at Ffos Las (15.8f) in October. Ran well for long way tackling 18.5f at Exeter since and switch to handicaps a plus now.

Form: 52-525

Forecasts

Grivetana (11/10), Petticoat Lucy (9/2), Amelia's Dance (7/1), Midnight Ginger (8/1), Lady Gwen (17/2), Heure De Gloire (12/1), Lime Drop (16/1), Perfect Myth (50/1), Lady Pacifico (50/1)

GRIVETANA went like a filly on a good mark when runner-up in the C&D Gerry Feilden 5 weeks ago and back against her own sex, she's fancied to prove the point here. Amelia's Dance rates a live threat on the back of success at Taunton, with Heure de Gloire and Midnight Ginger completing the shortlist.