14:10 Kelso

Saturday 21 March 2026

All13:0013:3014:1014:4015:1315:4816:23

BetWright Herring Queen Series Final Mares' Novices' Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:10 | Winning time: 3m 59.22s

Khrisma^h³²

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 128| D

5/4

Progressive mare who probably should have won all 3 of her starts since chasing home now-smart Casheldale Lad at Punchestown in May, jumping well when successful at Market Rasen last time. This big-field scenario should play to her strengths now handicapping and she's a big player.

Form: 3/32-121

Queenie St Clair^h²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Freddie Keighley⁽⁵⁾| T: Nick Scholfield| OR: 119| BF

20/1

Winner of 2 of her 4 starts for present yard, barely breaking sweat when sauntering home by 17 lengths at Fontwell in February. Race probably came too soon when disappointing under a penalty at Newbury 6 days later but the potential stumbling block here is that her new mark has now kicked in.

Form: 7-61315

Beauty In The Park⁴⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: G Sheehan| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 114| D

12/1

Made the frame both starts in bumpers and off the mark at the third attempt in this sphere when proving 3½ lengths too strong for Yeld To Call at Taunton, with Queenie St Clair, who also renewals rivalry here, back in third. Opening mark looks fair and she needs considering.

Form: 43-521

Anariza^h²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Jack Andrews| T: T Ellis| OR: 113| D

18/1

Free-going sort who got off the mark in 5-runner novice at Wetherby on return in November. Wasn't in the same form at Windsor next time and, though far from disgraced in a Kempton Grade 2 on his latest start, some of the others could be better treated.

Form: 32P-135

Diamonds Galore³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: David Bass| T: N J Henderson| OR: 113| BF

12/1

Fair form in bumpers and, having undergone a breathing operation following a low-key hurdles debut last February, she has found just one too good all 3 starts this season. Sketchy jump at the final flight proved costly on handicap debut at Ludlow last time and she's one to be interested in.

Form: 23P-222

Azahara Palace³³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Ryan Mania| T: A Keatley| OR: 113| D

28/1

Fairly useful on the Flat and won at second attempt in this sphere in a Hexham novice. Improved second in Carlisle handicap (first run in handicap company over hurdles) but another forward step is needed, now 3 lb higher in a significantly stronger race.

Form: 2152

First Candidate^t⁴⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: Tristan Durrell| T: D Skelton| OR: 110

11/1

Irish point winner who was a given a considerate return from a 2-month break (in a first-time tongue strap) when fifth at Huntingdon in December. Stepped up on that when chasing home a progressive type in a Ludlow novice and she may well have more to offer now pitched into a handicap.

Form: F1-F52

Yeld To Call^t1⁴⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: C Gethings| T: Mrs J Williams| OR: 108

20/1

Fair form in bumpers and bettered previous efforts in this sphere when splitting Beauty In The Park and Queenie St Clair at Taunton. Now 6 lb better off with the winner for a 3½-length beating and she's a plausible each-way candidate for this handicap debut.

Form: 4-4442

Our Peggy^h¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard| OR: 107

15/2

Won sole start in Irish points in October and has taken steps in the right direction with each of her 3 starts since switched to hurdles, pulling clear of the rest when second in a 13-runner Wincanton novice 16 days ago. Likely to be on the premises now venturing down the handicap route.

Form: 1642

Belle Le Grand^t³²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: Liam Harrison| T: D Skelton| OR: 106| D

20/1

Irish bumper winner who bagged maiden/novice hurdles at Warwick and Cartmel last spring. Now 8 lb lower in the weights than when making her handicap debut in December but with good reason (struggled all 3 completed starts in handicaps) and yard saddles a more appealing candidate in First Candidate.

Form: 26F680

Klassy Pearl²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: R Patrick| T: C Boultbee-Brooks| OR: 105

25/1

Runner-up both starts in Irish points and has made the frame on 3 of her 4 starts under Rules, most recently finishing second in a 4-runner affair on handicap bow at Exeter last month. Ought to pick up a race before long but there are more appealing options on this occasion.

Form: 22-4622

Riviera Walk¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 105| D

16/1

Bumper winner who was in the process of showing improved form when falling at the final flight on handicap debut at Wincanton in December. Further progress when easily landing a Catterick mares' novice recently and she's not without each-way hope returned to handicap company.

Form: 00-24F1

Gintime⁴⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: Danny McMenamin| T: N G Richards| OR: 105

33/1

Arguably fortunate to win 4-runner maiden at Sedgefield on penultimate start, albeit she was still travelling well when the favourite departed 3 out. However, her subsequent handicap debut display at Carlisle was uninspiring.

Form: 244-419

Crystal Days^t⁸³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: Callum Pritchard⁽³⁾| T: B Pauling| OR: 105| DWS

25/1

Made it third time lucky in bumpers last spring and produced best effort yet in this sphere when runner-up in a Catterick novice at the end of December. Absent since (breathing operation in the interim) but it's entirely possible that she'll be seen in a better light now handicapping.

Form: 751-342

Madame La Papillon²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: Alice Stevens⁽³⁾| T: Miss C Dyson| OR: 104| BF| D

18/1

Bumper winner who was second on first 2 runs over hurdles before failing to land the odds in a mares' maiden at Hereford where she was too keen for her own good. Remains one to view in a positive light but improvement will be needed now tackling a handicap for the first time.

Form: 1/58-226

Non-Runners

Changemyluck²¹

Weight: 10-8| Age: 6

T: W Coltherd J: Sean Quinlan

Forecasts

Khrisma (5/4), Our Peggy (15/2), First Candidate (11/1), Beauty In The Park (12/1), Diamonds Galore (12/1), Riviera Walk (16/1), Madame La Papillon (18/1), Anariza (18/1), Queenie St Clair (20/1), Belle Le Grand (20/1), Yeld To Call (20/1), Klassy Pearl (25/1), Crystal Days (25/1), Azahara Palace (28/1), Gintime (33/1), Changemyluck (50/1)

Nicky Henderson saddled the winner of the inaugural running of this in 2022 and, in DIAMONDS GALORE and Khrisma, the yard fields 2 live contenders this time round. The latter remains with potential and is bound to be popular but Diamonds Galore is an appealing alternative at the forecast prices, on the back of what has to go down as an unlucky defeat in a Ludlow handicap. Our Peggy rates a solid each-way option, while Beauty In The Park and First Candidate are others to consider.