14:10 Wetherby

Saturday 4 February 2023

All13:0013:3514:1014:4015:2315:5516:30

Wilmot-Smith Memorial Mares' Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:12 | Winning time: 3m 53.56s

Jane Du Berlais⁶¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: James Bowen| T: R Potter| D

9/4

No worse for her Uttoxeter slip up as she won a big-field 2m Lingfield mares' novice hurdle in December, still rough around the edges and closed down only when the race was in safe-keeping. More to come.

Form: 5-S1

Ruby Island⁴⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: M Walford| D

8/13

Promising mare who made a fine start over hurdles when landing 2m Ayr maiden in December, drawing clear, with the third winning next time. Promises to do better and holds leading claims.

Form: 31-241

Classic Lady²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Sam Coltherd| T: M Walford

100/1

Winning pointer but achieved nothing making her belated Rules debut when only ninth of 11 in novice hurdle at this C&D (soft, 10/1) on NH debut 21 days ago.

Form: 31232/9

Glamorous Icon⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Joe Williamson⁽⁵⁾| T: P A Kirby

150/1

No encouragement when ninth of 16 in bumper (22/1) at Newcastle (16.9f, soft) on NH debut 40 days ago. Needs to leave that form well behind to hold any chance on hurdles debut.

Form: 9

Hashtag Boum³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Brendan Powell| T: Ruth Jefferson

33/1

Irish point winner led until after halfway but ultimately finished well held when tenth of 13 in novice hurdle at Catterick (19.3f, soft) on NH debut 38 days ago. Others preferred.

Form: 10

Just Dottie^h1³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: William Shanahan⁽⁷⁾| T: R M Smith

50/1

Well held in a bumper and 2 Flat maidens for Kaite Scott but showed some ability when fifth of 11 in novice hurdle at Ayr (16f, heavy) on yard/hurdles bow 33 days ago. Hood now applied.

Form: 0-5

Mistral Nell⁷²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Charlie Hammond| T: L Wadham| D

14/1

Won Fakenham bumper on debut but failed to confirm that form in 2 subsequent bumper outings. Better effort over hurdles when fifth of 10 in novice (12/1) at Lingfield (19.5f, good to soft) 72 days ago but perhaps will be more interesting in handicaps.

Form: 187-65

Not In Kansas^t²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Bruce Lynn⁽³⁾| T: N W Alexander

150/1

Mid-field in Hexham bumper last term and was far too free when sixth of 7 in novice at Ayr (20.4f, heavy, 50/1) on hurdles bow 26 days ago. Other preferred.

Form: 66

Pass The Love On⁴⁰⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Tom Cannon| T: A KingWS

11/2

Showed fair form when second of 13 in bumper at Ludlow (15.8f, good to soft) on her last outing 13 months ago, finishing clear of rest. Should prove up to winning over hurdles and her yard can ready one after an absence.

Form: 82-

Rhyme Scheme^t⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Alison Clarke⁽⁷⁾| T: P Winks

250/1

Regressive on the Flat and hasn't showed anything in pair of hurdles starts so far, including at Doncaster last week.

Form: P0

Tangiers⁷⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Henry Brooke| T: N W Alexander

150/1

In good hands but hasn't offered much in 4 starts in bumpers/over hurdles and is opposable once again.

Form: 78-P3

Forecasts

Ruby Island (8/13), Jane Du Berlais (9/4), Pass The Love On (11/2), Mistral Nell (14/1), Hashtag Boum (33/1), Just Dottie (50/1), Classic Lady (100/1), Tangiers (150/1), Glamorous Icon (150/1), Not In Kansas (150/1), Rhyme Scheme (250/1)

Only 3 in the field of any serious interest, with Mark Walford's RUBY ISLAND taken to follow up from her Ayr success at the chief expense of Ryan Potter's Lingfield-winner Jane du Berlais. Alan King's Pass The Love On showed ability in a pair of bumpers over a year ago and is a potential lurker if ready to roll after a lengthy absence.