Nouvelle Habit Mares' Handicap Hurdle

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: G Sheehan| T: Miss J S Davis| OR: 98

Developed into a fair handicap hurdler last season, scoring at Ffos Las and Lingfield. However, she hasn't quite got back to that form in 3 starts so far this term and may again find one or two too good.

Form: 213-630

Briery Butterfly⁷³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: David Bass| T: H D Daly| OR: 93

9/2

Has performed with credit in 21.2f Ludlow handicaps on each of her last 3 starts, posting arguably her best effort yet when chasing home a most progressive mare in Princess Keri last time. 4 lb rise for that solid effort fair enough and she's a key player.

Form: 5654-32

Delta Blues Belle³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 92

2/1

Winning pointer who has yet to pull up any trees under Rules but she promises to be seen in an altogether different light now taking a sizeable step up in trip. Very interesting.

Form: 1-50597

Newmill Getaway¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: J J Burke| T: F O'Brien| OR: 87

11/4

Fair bumper winner for David Brace who performed with credit when runner-up on first 2 starts for this yard in mares' handicap hurdles last May/June. Didn't shape too badly returning from 8 months off at Taunton (3m, soft) and should make her presence felt.

Form: 6/53-225

Stamina Chope⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-0| J: Lee Edwards| T: Dave Roberts| OR: 84| D

10/3

Has proved consistent since returning from over a year off last summer and successful on 2 of her last 3 starts, including a Ffos Las handicap back over fences (19.4f, heavy) 6 days ago. Switches back to this sphere off the same mark and she has to enter calculations.

Form: 422131

Dontworrywegotthis^p²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Tabitha Worsley⁽³⁾| T: G Howell| OR: 59

250/1

No sign of ability in bumper/over hurdles and readily passed over from 13 lb out of the handicap.

Form: 0-8P6P5

Non-Runners

Dilly's Gunner²⁰

Weight: 11-12| Age: 5

T: M & D Easterby J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Stamina Chope (6/4), Briery Butterfly (2/1), Newmill Getaway (7/2), Dilly's Gunner (7/1), Jolie Baie (10/1), Delta Blues Belle (14/1), Dontworrywegotthis (100/1)

DELTA BLUES BELLE's five runs under Rules have all been at around 2m and this point winner can be expected to take a big step forward now faced with a stiffer test. She gets the nod, although solid cases can also be made for Briery Butterfly, Newmill Getaway and Stamina Chope.