12:05 Newbury

Saturday 30 December 2023

All12:0512:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:35

Play Coral 'Racing-Super-Series' For Free Mares' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 12:05 | Winning time: 4m 9.57s

Magical Maggie²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Jay Tidball⁽⁵⁾| T: A Ralph| OR: 124| D

11/2

Mare with a good strike-rate, gaining a sixth win from 11 starts when easily seeing off 4 rivals at Ludlow (2m, heavy) 24 days ago. A 7 lb rise is unlikely to prevent another prominent showing.

Form: 512-131

Greyval⁵⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: Liam Harrison| T: F O'Brien| OR: 119| D

6/1

Dual winner in juvenile hurdles last season, including a listed event at Doncaster. Shaped as if she'd come on for the run when sixth of 12 in on handicap debut at Ascot (2m, good to soft, 18/1) 32 days ago. Considered.

Form: 2118-6

Mucuna⁵³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-8| J: Bradley Harris⁽⁵⁾| T: Anthony Charlton| OR: 118| D

66/1

Just a modest Flat winner but quickly made up into a better hurdler in summer 2022, winning 4 juveniles. Not seen since so a watching brief is the percentage call on her handicap debut in this sphere.

Form: 12111-

Lime Avenue^h1,t¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 116| BF| D

11/1

Impressive bumper winner on debut at Chepstow and off the mark at the third attempt over hurdles at Wincanton (21.5f, good to soft) in February. Below that level in 2 handicaps this season and now has a first-time hood added to her regular tongue tie.

Form: 1251-45

Amelia's Dance¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Tabitha Worsley⁽³⁾| T: R Walford| OR: 116| D

9/1

Added to an excellent record at Taunton when winning last December. Lost her way in the spring but back on song of late, runner-up over 2m at Wincanton and Kempton in recent months. Didn't seem to stay 19f when fifth at Taunton latest and treated as if still in form.

Form: 545-225

Mary²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-3| J: C J Todd| T: Ian Williams| OR: 113

7/1

Yeats filly who showed plenty of promise when placed in bumpers at Warwick and Cheltenham last spring and third in 2 hurdles since returning to action, latterly a listed event over C&D. Of some interest now making a quick switch to handicaps.

Form: 23-533

Walk Of No Shame¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 110| D

11/1

Bumper/novice hurdle winner last winter who added to her tally in a 3-runner handicap at Southwell (2m, soft) 13 days ago. 4 lb higher in a more competitive race now.

Form: 6-32231

Spring Note³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: James Bowen| T: N J Henderson| OR: 110| C| D

11/4

Bumper winner who left previous hurdles efforts behind to make a successful handicap debut here (19f) in March. Stamina stretched by 3m on her Ascot reappearance, shaping better than a remote seventh might suggest. Down markedly in trip now.

Form: 12216-7

Parikarma²³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Rob Hargreaves⁽¹⁰⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 109| D

9/2

Three-time winner on Flat who got off the mark on second hurdles outing at Taunton in February. Runner-up on 3 of her 4 hurdle starts since, including in handicap company latest. Respected for stable enjoying a cracking Christmas.

Form: 4122-92

Forecasts

Spring Note (11/4), Parikarma (9/2), Magical Maggie (11/2), Greyval (6/1), Mary (7/1), Amelia's Dance (9/1), Walk Of No Shame (11/1), Lime Avenue (11/1), Mucuna (66/1)

PARIKARMA looked suited by the drop back to 2m when second at Market Rasen and can provide Gary Moore with yet another winner this week. The prolific Magical Maggie is second choice ahead of handicap newcomer Mary and Fergal O'Brien's Greyval, who should be sharper for her reappearance.