Radnor Hills Mares' Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:50 | Winning time: 3m 47.4s

Kingston Sunflower²²

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Fern O'Brien⁽⁵⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 121| CD

5/2

Completed a hat-trick over hurdles for O'Brien prior to a stable switch back in 2022 and has got right back on the up since recently rejoining the yard, scoring over C&D in October before following in likeable fashion from the front at Huntingdon 3 weeks ago. Leading player.

Form: 11P5/11

Walkadina¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Jack Tudor| T: D Pipe| OR: 115| D

5/2

Impressed to win on hurdles bow and solid form when fourth in listed company next time. Plenty of promise to be taken from her efforts in handicaps, travelling well before perhaps stretched by the longer trip when fifth at Cheltenham (21f, soft) 19 days ago. Respected.

Form: 14324-5

Tour Ovalie²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Isabel Williams| T: Evan Williams| OR: 115| CD

7/2

Notched 5 wins in a productive 2024/25 campaign (including this race). No impact in the Welsh Champion Hurdle (handicap) on Chepstow and seemingly given a considerate ride when down the field at Exeter next time. Not written off back down at 2m.

Form: 9198-77

Magical Maggie⁵⁰¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: J J Burke| T: A Ralph| OR: 115| CD

3/1

Winless since landing this race in 2023 but ran very well in spite of a less-than-ideal passage when a fast-finishing third in a 17-runner handicap at Market Rasen (16.6f, good to firm, 20/1) in July 2024. Market should prove best guide.

Form: 435/563-

Belle Le Grand^t²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Liam Harrison| T: D Skelton| OR: 114| D

12/1

Irish bumper winner who bagged maiden/novice hurdles at Warwick and Cartmel in May. Advanced her form under a double penalty when second of 5 in at Newton Abbot (16.8f, good to soft) following month and given a considerate return to action at Hexham last month. Interesting handicap newcomer.

Form: 13-1126

O'Grady's Hill⁴⁰⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: James Best| T: S-J Davies| OR: 93

200/1

Successful in a point during the spring and runner-up in a couple of maiden hurdles in July 2024. Respectable efforts in handicaps after but was sold alarmingly cheaply from Harry Derham later that year and this looks a stiff task from out of the weights after over a year off.

Form: 1/22264-

Non-Runners

Game Colours¹⁷

Weight: 11-10| Age: 7

T: Ben Clarke J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Walkadina (5/2), Kingston Sunflower (5/2), Magical Maggie (3/1), Tour Ovalie (7/2), Game Colours (6/1), Belle Le Grand (12/1), O'Grady's Hill (200/1)

Fergal O'Brien's likeable front-runner KINGSTON SUNFLOWER can defy another 4 lb rise to notch a sixth consecutive hurdles victory for the trainer, Walkadina caught the eye for a long way over 21f at Cheltenham on her return and should benefit from the drop back in trip, with Belle Le Grand a potentially dangerous handicap newcomer for the red-hot Skelton yard.