Ruabon Mares' Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:37 | Winning time: 5m 6.95s

Eve Moneypenny^h⁴⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 119| D

6/5

Maiden pointer who made a successful start to life under Rules despite having proved friendless in the betting in maiden hurdle at Punchestown in June. Failed to kick on from that on both subsequent starts and has since switched yards. Can put her hurdling experience to good use.

Form: 3P-F165

Caught A Vibe²⁵⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Christian Williams

28/1

£40,000 5-y-o, Dylan Thomas mare. Half-sister to 4 winners, including useful hurdler Boss Man Fred and fairly useful hurdler Wild Romance, stays 29f. Dam point winner. Placed last 2 of 3 starts in Irish points, beaten a head last time (Jan 22).

Form: P32-

Drumlee Spud³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Beau Morgan⁽⁵⁾| T: B Pauling| BF

15/8

Successful on sole outing in points and produced a promising first effort under Rules when runner-up in a Worcester bumper last month. Likely sort upped in trip for her hurdles debut.

Form: 1-2

Omaha Wish¹⁷⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Skelton| T: D SkeltonWS

9/2

Point winner who made a solid start under Rules when third in a bumper at Warwick in February. Proved a let-down 7 weeks on at Fakenham when last seen 6 months ago but has had a wind operation ahead of her hurdling debut. Needs a market check.

Form: 139-

Queen Antoinette⁸²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: Miss E C Lavelle

14/1

Champs Elysees mare who offered something to work on when third in a bumper at Worcester (16f, good) back in June 2021. Presumably had her issues to not have been seen since, so she's probably best watched on hurdles debut.

Form: 3/

Non-Runners

Vive De Charnie⁵⁹⁴

Weight: 11-0| Age: 6

T: Miss Lucinda V Russell J: D R Fox

Forecasts

Eve Moneypenny (6/5), Drumlee Spud (15/8), Omaha Wish (9/2), Vive De Charnie (7/1), Queen Antoinette (14/1), Caught A Vibe (28/1)

Tough to rule out any of the sextet but preference is for EVE MONEYPENNY, who has failed to kick on since making a successful start to life under Rules at Punchestown in June but can put her hurdling experience to good use on first outing for Donald McCain. Drumlee Spud finished runner-up in a Worcester bumper last month and she's expected to be in the mix now hurdling, with Omaha Wish rounding off the shortlist.