16:45 Ascot

Saturday 18 February 2023

All13:2013:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:45

British European Breeders' Fund EBF Mares' Open NH Flat Race (GBB Race)

Off time: 16:46 | Winning time: 3m 46.66s

Golden Ace⁵⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Rex Dingle| T: J Scott

7/2

Golden Horn filly who showed a likeable attitude when making a winning debut at Wincanton on Boxing Day, rallying to lead again on the line. More will be needed to defy her penalty, though.

Form: 1

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Inion Tiogair⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Conor Ring⁽³⁾| T: G Harris| D

33/1

Put her experience to good use in going one better than she had on her debut (having left Margaret Mullins in the 3 months since) when making all in Ludlow bumper last month, seen to maximum effect with others behind appearing less at ease under conditions. More needed here.

Form: 21

Kay Tara Tara⁵⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: J J Burke| T: A King| D

17/2

Looked potentially useful when readily making a winning debut on Lingfield's AW in December. Plenty of stamina in her pedigree (dam from family of Best Mate) so this stiffer test promises to suit her even better.

Form: 1

Bethka⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill

16/1

€75,000 Walk In The Park mare who is bred to be useful and solid start when 2 lengths second of 15 at Ludlow last month. One for the shortlist.

Form: 2

Between Waters^h1³⁵⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson

11/8

Had a first-time-out bumper winner behind her in second when easy winner of her sole Irish point just under a year ago. Hooded for Rules debut. Has joined a top stable and a market confidence would look very significant.

Form: 1-

Mighty Moth⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: R T Dunne| T: Noel Williams

40/1

Showed a bit when fifth of 11 on her Uttoxeter debut at the turn of the year but the reopposing Politacus was 15 lengths ahead of her in second.

Form: 5

Our Nel^h1⁹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Ben Bromley⁽⁷⁾| T: H Fry

18/1

Promising Rules debut when fourth in an 18-runner Warwick bumper in November. Fitted with a hood on her return to action. Could easily have more to offer.

Form: F4

Politacus⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Liam Harrison⁽³⁾| T: F O'Brien

15/2

Has shown a fair bit in bumpers, fifth in a listed mares' contest at Cheltenham before going close at Uttoxeter on New Year's Day. Likely to be in the thick of things again.

Form: 452

Spring Gale

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: T J O'Brien| T: H D Daly

28/1

Blue Bresil mare. Half-sister to bumper winner/fairly useful hurdler It's Probably Me and 2½m hurdle winner The Wild Wild Sea. Stable 2-9 in bumpers this season. Worth a second look in the betting.

Form:

Tara's Light²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: N F Houlihan⁽³⁾| T: G & J Moore

150/1

Sister to fairly useful hurdlers Robin's Dream and Jerrash but more one for the longer term judged on her remote fifth on her Fontwell debut 3 weeks ago.

Form: 5

Whispering Gold⁵⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: James Davies| T: N J Gifford

150/1

20/1, 7¼ lengths fourth of 9 to Kay Tara Tara in bumper at Lingfield (AW) on debut 59 days ago. Receives 4 lb from Alan King's mare this time but it doesn't look enough for her to turn the tables.

Form: 4

Birdhouse

Age: 4| Weight: 10-4| J: C Gethings| T: S Edmunds

20/1

€5,000 New Approach sister to a winner and half-sister to 3 winners on Flat, including smart 7f-1¼m winner Don't Give Up. Dam 11f winner. Worth a market check with her stable among the winners.

Form:

Chesky's In Milan

Age: 4| Weight: 10-4| J: Harry Reed| T: M F Harris

28/1

€10,000 Milan filly. dam 2m-2½m hurdle/chase winner (stayed 3m). Stable a very healthy 20-86 in bumpers in the last 5 seasons. One to note in the betting.

Form:

Mistral Milly

Age: 4| Weight: 10-4| J: Alexander Thorne⁽⁵⁾| T: A King

18/1

Mount Nelson half-sister to fairly useful hurdler Grosvenor Court (21f winner. Dam bumper winner, closely related to stayers Darkness and Cantlow (both useful hurdler/smart chaser). Kay Tara Tara has to be considered the stable first string unless the market hints otherwise.

Form:

Non-Runners

J'ventile

Weight: 10-4| Age: 4

T: O Signy J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Between Waters (11/8), Golden Ace (7/2), Politacus (15/2), Kay Tara Tara (17/2), J'ventile (10/1), Bethka (16/1), Mistral Milly (18/1), Our Nel (18/1), Birdhouse (20/1), Spring Gale (28/1), Chesky's In Milan (28/1), Inion Tiogair (33/1), Mighty Moth (40/1), Whispering Gold (150/1), Tara's Light (150/1)

POLITACUS is perhaps the percentage call on the back of her Uttoxeter near miss, although a strong market move for Nicky Henderson's point-winner Between Waters would put a slightly different slant on things. Kay Tara Tara may fare best of the previous winners, while Bethka and Our Nel are also respected after promising bumper debut efforts.