16:13 Huntingdon

Thursday 23 January 2025

All12:1212:4713:2013:5514:3015:0515:4016:13

Pertemps Network Mares' Open Maiden NH Flat Race (GBB Race)

Off time: 16:13 | Winning time: 3m 54.60s

Barford Groover⁶⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan

11/1

Left inauspicious debut well behind when ¾-length second to Push The Button in a bumper at Bangor in April 2023. Subsequent absence has to be a concern ahead of this yard debut but the horse that beat her at Bangor has subsequently made up into a pretty useful hurdler. Not discounted.

Form: 82/

Diamonds Galore²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson

10/3

Could finish only sixth of 11 on debut at Warwick in November but wasn't knocked about that day and she showed the benefit of that experience when runner-up at Uttoxeter on New Year's Eve. Likely to make a bold bid to go one better here.

Form: 62

Dramatic Encore⁵¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Paul O'Brien| T: Harry Derham

10/3

Purchased for £65,000 after reaching the frame both starts in Irish points. Beaten 17 lengths when fourth of 9 on Rules debut in a Southwell bumper but was left with plenty to do and wasn't given a hard time. Likely to leave that well behind in time.

Form: 42-4

Philippa's Choice⁷⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: J J Burke| T: A Ralph

5/2

Fell on her only start in points but showed ability in a bumper at Chepstow on Rules debut in November. Entitled to come on for that run and she's a plausible each-way candidate.

Form: F-4

Polkaface⁵⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: J M Quinlan| T: B I Case

28/1

Half-sister to numerous winners, including smart 2m hurdler Cockney Sparrow and fairly useful hurdler Dino Mite. Hasn't pulled up any trees in a couple of runs so far and she's opposable.

Form: 05

Walkingtheline⁶⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Stan Sheppard| T: T Lacey

8/1

From the family of a useful chaser and has shown ability in making the frame in a couple of Uttoxeter bumpers. Will need to raise her game if she's to make it third time lucky but minor place money is a distinct possibility.

Form: 43

Astra Luna^t⁵⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-5| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: J A Osborne

12/1

Half-sister to 3 winners and hinted at ability when seventh in an 11-runner Ludlow bumper on debut last month. Will be more street-wise this time but others make more appeal for win purposes all the same.

Form: 7

Slack Alice⁸⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-5| J: G Sheehan| T: P Owens

9/1

Bred to improve with age and has looked a work in progress so far, albeit her latest effort at Stratford was a step forward from her debut. Likely to benefit from a stiffer test in due course.

Form: 84

Non-Runners

Hidden Star⁹⁷

Weight: 11-4| Age: 5

T: O Signy J: James Davies

Vera Hobbs⁵⁷

Weight: 11-4| Age: 5

T: T Ellis J: Jack Andrews

Forecasts

Philippa's Choice (5/2), Diamonds Galore (10/3), Dramatic Encore (10/3), Walkingtheline (8/1), Slack Alice (9/1), Barford Groover (11/1), Astra Luna (12/1), Vera Hobbs (25/1), Polkaface (28/1), Hidden Star (50/1)

This represents a good opportunity for DIAMONDS GALORE, who stepped up on what she showed first time out when finding just one too strong at Uttoxeter and should prove hard to beat. Dramatic Encore's introduction at Southwell was encouraging and, with improvement on the cards, she is preferred to Barford Groover and Walkingtheline for forecast purposes.