12:55 Haydock

Saturday 23 December 2023

All11:4512:2012:5513:3014:0514:4015:15

Betfred Hat-Trick Heaven Mares' Novices' Hurdle (Listed) (GBB Race)

Off time: 12:55 | Winning time: 4m 53.4s

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Selected odds by:

Alfie's Princess^t³³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: S Thomas| OR: 121| D

7/2

Point winner who has made a promising start over hurdles, defying a penalty at the first time of asking in a 10-runner novice at Exeter (18.5, soft) 33 days ago, responding well. Open to further improvement and can make her presence felt up in grade.

Form: 1/28-11

Blue Baloo³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Ryan Mania| T: A M Thomson

16/1

Fairly useful in bumpers and made a successful debut over hurdles in 12-runner maiden at Newcastle (20.3f, good to soft) 30 days ago. This is much tougher but she's open to improvement.

Form: 414-1

Chosen Hero³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Nick Scholfield| T: A Watson| OR: 109| BF

66/1

Fair bumper winner who ran to a similar level sent hurdling when second of 13 in a novice at Hexham (16.2f, heavy). Derailed by late errors at Newcastle (20.3f) a fortnight later and has plenty to find up in grade.

Form: 8172-23

El Elefante⁵⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell

3/1

Runner-up sole start in Irish points and fairly useful form when making all both bumper outings. Could hardly have been more impressive switched to hurdling when thrashing 3 previous winners at Perth (20.2f) and backed up that effort when fifth in better company at Cheltenham since. Much respected.

Form: 211-15

Getaway Theatre²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: C Gethings| T: S Edmunds| OR: 116| BF

10/1

Off mark in Irish points at second attempt in April and well suited by emphasis on stamina when making winning hurdles bow over 22f at Stratford in November. No match for an improver at Exeter since and this drop in trip isn't sure to suit now upped in grade.

Form: 41-12

Little Miss Dante²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 123

3/1

Southwell bumper winner who was all the rage in the betting and looked potentially useful once again in taking her hurdles record to 2 wins from as many starts at Uttoxeter (15.8f, heavy) 27 days ago. Sure to go on to better things.

Form: 21-11

Lunar Discovery¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Charlotte Jones| T: James Moffatt| OR: 116

17/2

Above-average dual bumper who made it 2 from 2 over hurdles when defying a penalty in a 5-runner affair at Hexham (16.2f, heavy) 10 days ago, pushed out. Type to improve further.

Form: 11D0-11

Pawapuri³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: James Bowen| T: N J Henderson| OR: 118

6/1

Useful 11f Flat winner for William Haggas who made the most of a good opportunity down in grade at Wincanton (15.2f) 30 days ago, scoring with plenty in hand. Will go on improving and shouldn't be inconvenienced by this slightly longer trip.

Form: 49-1

Southern Babylon³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: R P McLernon| T: Ruth Jefferson| OR: 108

22/1

80,000 gns purchase after placing in an Irish point in May 2022 and confirmed the promise of her hurdling debut when landing 13-runner maiden at Market Rasen (20.6f) last month, benefiting from the step up in trip. This demands more but she hasn't finished improving by any means.

Form: 2/21

Forecasts

Little Miss Dante (3/1), El Elefante (3/1), Alfie's Princess (7/2), Pawapuri (6/1), Lunar Discovery (17/2), Getaway Theatre (10/1), Blue Baloo (16/1), Southern Babylon (22/1), Chosen Hero (66/1)

ALFIE'S PRINCESS has a likeable way of going about things and, with further improvement on the cards, she's fancied to take the step up in grade in her stride and maintain her unbeaten record over hurdles. Little Miss Dante and Pawapuri also look promising, and they head the opposition in an interesting event.