Seasons Greetings From Hexham Bookmakers Mares' Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 12:17 | Winning time: 4m 53.16s

Lunar Discovery³³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Charlotte Jones⁽³⁾| T: James Moffatt| CD

4/7

Above-average dual winner in bumpers and opened her account at the first time of asking in this sphere over C&D 33 days ago. More to come and makes plenty of appeal.

Form: 11D0-1

It's For You Mum²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: S Mulqueen| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell

100/1

Well held on her only start in bumpers and similar story on completed outing over hurdles. Hard to fancy.

Form: 6F6

Princess Of Mercia^t1

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: P W Wadge⁽³⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell

12/1

£15,000 3-y-o, Blue Bresil mare. Half-sister to fairly useful chaser Party Fuzz. Wears tongue strap. Worth a market check for in-form stable.

Form:

Smurfette³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Tristan Durrell⁽⁵⁾| T: D Skelton

15/8

Fair form in 2 bumpers last season and made an encouraging start to her hurdle career when fourth of 17 at Warwick (2m, heavy) on reappearance 5 weeks ago, unable to sustain effort after travelling well. A bold show looks assured with improvement on the cards.

Form: 53-4

Vive De Charnie^h1²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Alan Doyle⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell

22/1

Ran to a fair level in a brace of bumpers for Jamie Snowden 10 months apart. Low-key start over hurdles for this yard at Newcastle, however, and might be more of a handicap type. Headgear goes on.

Form: 42/9

Non-Runners

March Wind²⁷⁰

Weight: 11-0| Age: 6

T: A M Thomson J: Ryan Mania

Forecasts

Lunar Discovery (4/7), Smurfette (15/8), March Wind (4/1), Princess Of Mercia (12/1), Vive De Charnie (22/1), It's For You Mum (100/1)

LUNAR DISCOVERY overcame mistakes to make a successful start in this sphere over C&D and, with her jumping likely to be sharper this time, she's worth chancing to defy a penalty. Smurfette is an obvious threat having shaped nicely at Warwick recently and March Wind can feature if she takes to the new discipline.