14:40 Haydock

Saturday 20 December 2025

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

Betfred 'The Classic Bookmaker' Mares' Novices' Hurdle (Listed) (Registered As The Abram Hurdle) (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:40 | Winning time: 4m 39.91s

Jackie Hobbs⁴⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Paul O'Brien| T: Harry Derham

11/4

£130,000 point winner started 2-2 in bumpers prior to finding less than looked likely in the Nickel Coin at Aintree. Straight back on track when winning with a bit in hand on hurdles debut/return at Newbury (carries 3 lb penalty here). That form has worked out well and she looks sure to improve.

Form: 1/119-1

Amelia's Star³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Nick Slatter| T: D Killahena & G McPherson

20/1

Progressive in bumpers, running creditably in Grade 2 at Aintree final start last season and showed plenty on hurdles bow when runner-up at Huntingdon (15.8f) last month, pulling clear of the remainder. May improve upped in trip.

Form: 218-2

A Path To Ronda³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 123

5/1

Went the right way in bumpers prior to readily scoring on her hurdling debut at Stratford (22f) on reappearance. Backed that up under a penalty but no match for Supreme Malinas in an Exeter novice (18.5f) last time. Still early days but will need to improve despite a 7 lb pull at the weights here.

Form: 14-12

Bittalemon^p¹¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Charlotte Jones| T: James Moffatt| OR: 114

66/1

Fair 1½m Flat winner for William Haggas who showed similar form to land a pair of Cartmel novices over the summer, latterly when putting her experience to good use against a clutch of hurdling first-timers. Remains to be seen how she fares away from that track in better company.

Form: 45181

La Zoubida¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Sean Quinlan| T: N G Richards| OR: 117

4/1

Got off the mark in a Market Rasen bumper in February (before finding Grade 2 company too hot) but justified support to make a winning hurdles debut at Sedgefield. Followed up with bit in hand under a penalty at Kelso last time and improving mare merits respect in bid for hat-trick.

Form: 210-11

Park Princess^t1⁴⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Ben Godfrey| T: A J Honeyball

18/1

Looked a good prospect when winning a Newbury bumper on debut in December 2023 (not disgraced in better company after) and enhanced yard's fine record with horses making seasonal return when winning on hurdles bow at Ludlow last month. Open to improvement in first-time tongue tie.

Form: 149/1

Roses All The Way^t1³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain JnrWS

25/1

Second on sole start in points and fairly useful runner-up in listed bumper behind Supreme Malinas last season. Shaped as if better for the run when third behind La Zoubida on reappearance/hurdle debut at Sedgefield and may have more to offer on first start since wind surgery (wears tongue tie).

Form: 2/2230-3

Supreme Malinas³³

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

7/2

Irish point winner whose bumper form had plenty of substance and she made an impressive start over hurdles when seeing off A Path To Ronda by 4 lengths at Exeter last month, quickened clear and well on top at finish. In excellent hands and looks sure to progress.

Form: 1/2135-1

Walks The Talk⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Alex Harvey| T: J C McConnell| OR: 118

6/1

Walk In the Park mare who made a promising start over hurdles when justifying support at Roscommon and followed up under a penalty against geldings when making all (jumped well) to land a Kelso novice, only kept up to work late on. Could be more to come as she bid for hat-trick.

Form: 1-32411

Forecasts

Jackie Hobbs (11/4), Supreme Malinas (7/2), La Zoubida (4/1), A Path To Ronda (5/1), Walks The Talk (6/1), Park Princess (18/1), Amelia's Star (20/1), Roses All The Way (25/1), Bittalemon (66/1)

SUPREME MALINAS built on the promise she showed in bumpers with an impressive hurdling debut success at Exeter last month and she's fancied to follow up. Jackie Hobbs looks the main danger in her bid to make it 2-2 over hurdles, the form of her Newbury success working out well, while hat-trick seeking La Zoubida is another to note in a field stacked with potential improvers.