January 18 / 13.15 Newbury

13.15

Heavy

British EBF Mares’ ‘National Hunt’ Novices’ Hurdle (EBF Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle Series Qual’) (GBB)

  • Prize money: £4955.32
  • 2m 4f 118y
  • Class 4
  • 7 runners
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British EBF Mares’ ‘National Hunt’ Novices’ Hurdle (EBF Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle Series Qual’) (GBB)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

Form: 2-1321

Last run: 13 days

W: 11st 10lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Proved her effectiveness ob heavy ground with a comfortable Ffos Las win 13 days ago; more on her plate under a penalty, and up in trip, but consistent and should give a good account of herself again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

11th Jun 2024

Good

2m 4f 88y

Class 5

16:55 Southwell

Mrs Grimley

11st 4lb

J: Charlie Todd

T: Sam Allwood

Became disappointing for Ben Pauling last season and, following a wind op, made low-key stable debut last month; needs to have taken significant benefit from that recent outing.

16/1

5th

3

4th May 2024

Good To Soft

1m 7f 168y

Class 5

19:25 Uttoxeter

Mrs Grimley

11st 8lb

J: Robert Dunne

T: Sam Allwood

Won heavy-ground novice hurdle for Ben Pauling in early part of 2023 but became very disappointing for that stable last season; needs combination of wind op and change of scenary to prompt a revival.

14/1

5th

3

4th May 2024

Good To Soft

1m 7f 168y

Class 5

19:25 Uttoxeter

Mrs Grimley

11st 8lb

J: Robert Dunne

T: Sam Allwood

Won heavy-ground novice hurdle for Ben Pauling in early part of 2023 but became very disappointing for that stable last season; needs combination of wind op and change of scenary to prompt a revival.

14/1

Form: 267

Last run: 18 days

W: 11st 3lb

6 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
Runner-up in a weak bumper last August but tailed off on recent hurdling debut at Warwick; others far more likely.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

8

19th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 11y

Class 4

16:50 Ludlow

Amidnightstar

11st 5lb

J: Miss Clara Brewitt

T: Tom Britten

33-1 when runner-up on her bumper debut for James Evans in 2022 and was 28-1 when winning a Hereford maiden hurdle by 10l in February 2023; back from a three-year absence when 8-1 but weakening quickly at Brocklesby Park (3m, good to soft; pulled up) four weeks ago; can probably do better with that outing behind her but she's impossible to assess accurately.

25/1

1st

8

5th Feb 2023

Good

2m 3f 147y

Class 4

13:33 Hereford

Amidnightstar

11st 2lb

J: Ben Poste

T: James Evans

Modest form when second in a Stratford bumper and tailed off since, latterly on her hurdling debut.

33/1

Form: 5-234

Last run: 29 days

W: 11st 3lb

6 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
Ran very well when third in a Cheltenham Listed bumper in November but only fourth on her hurdling debut last month; capable of better and not ruled out though ability to handle heavy ground has to be taken on trust.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

3

27th Jan 2025

Soft

3m 0f 217y

Class 4

15:20 Plumpton

Fortuna Ligna

11st 13lb

J: Chad Bament

T: Anthony Honeyball

Only the two wins to her name but she's consistent and finished a respectable 11l sixth of eight in a class 2 at Kempton from out of the weights over Christmas, ridden by Chad Bament who couldn't make use of his full claim; strong stayer who's worth considering, back in class.

9/2

Abandoned

Form: 26

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 3lb

5 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Runner-up (five ran) in a bumper but beaten 25l on last month's hurdling debut; longer trip a help on pedigree but deal of improvement needed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

16th Apr 2025

Good

2m 7f 191y

Class 4

17:45 Ffos Las

Gaye Legacy

11st 11lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Tom Symonds

Dual hurdle winner last season (2m7f/3m) and returned from ten-month break with two good efforts in February, latterly when second to Felicie Du Maquis at Ludlow (3m, soft); will probably be in the shake-up again.

5/1

2

16th Apr 2025

Good

2m 7f 191y

Class 4

17:45 Ffos Las

Gaye Legacy

11st 11lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Tom Symonds

never going well, in touch with leaders, nudged along from 6th, weakened before 2 out, soon pulled up

5/1

2nd

2

27th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 7f 174y

Class 3

15:45 Ludlow

Gaye Legacy

11st 13lb

J: Ben Poste

T: Tom Symonds

Very solid campaign last season, winning twice (2m7f/3m, good to soft/soft), and she was a fair fourth in a tough handicap at Sandown (2m7f, heavy) on this month's belated reappearance; drops back down in grade today and could play a leading role.

7/2

OUR TIP

Form: 2144

Last run: 13 days

W: 11st 3lb

5 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Bumper winner; beaten more than 5l by Mrs Grimley at Ffos Las, on return from a break; keeping on at the end of the race and could finish much closer to that rival over longer trip and with a 7lb pull in the weights.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

15th Feb 2023

Good

2m 5f 163y

Class 5

15:35 Hereford

Masked Matgil

12st 0lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Tom Lacey

Handicap debutante who has shaped quite well in recent novice/maiden events; no guarantee on breeding that she will stay this trip but this bumper winner is a likely candidate if she does.

11/8

5th

9

1st Feb 2023

Good To Soft

2m 0f 161y

Class 4

14:10 Exeter

Masked Matgil

11st 6lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Tom Lacey

midfield, bumped 3rd

7/1

Form: 12 BF

Last run: 38 days

W: 11st 3lb

5 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Taking debut when beating 15 rivals in a Warwick bumper in November but beaten at 4-9 when switched to hurdles at Southwell (2m) last month; yet to tackle heavy ground but likely to prove much better than that initial effort, especially at this longer trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

1

28th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 0f 69y

Class 3

12:05 Newbury

Spring Note

12st 2lb

J: Freddie Gordon

T: Nicky Henderson

Easily won this last year and made it 3-3 here (good-heavy) when scoring over C&D in March; soundly beaten on final start last season and pulled up here on her return, but she may have needed that run and is entitled to respect based on her excellent record here previously.

11/1

10th

1

28th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 0f 69y

Class 3

12:05 Newbury

Spring Note

12st 2lb

J: Freddie Gordon

T: Nicky Henderson

Easily won this last year and made it 3-3 here (good-heavy) when scoring over C&D in March; soundly beaten on final start last season and pulled up here on her return, but she may have needed that run and is entitled to respect based on her excellent record here previously.

11/1

10

30th Nov 2024

Soft

2m 4f 118y

Class 2

13:54 Newbury

Spring Note

11st 3lb

J: David Bass

T: Nicky Henderson

raced in second, weakened 3 out, pulled up after 2 out

10/1

Form: P5

Last run: 14 days

W: 11st 3lb

7 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
Market springer on stable/hurdling debut at Ludlow last month but was pulled up; beaten 25l at Hereford since and considerable improvement needed to trouble some of these; has raced prominently.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

15th Jun 2023

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

17:50 Worcester

The Eminent Goose

12st 0lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: Ben Pauling

Placed in a point but he raced too freely under an inexperienced claimer on his chasing debut when sixth of eight in 2m3f Stratford handicap 25 days ago; he showed some fair form without winning over hurdles and can do better with Charlie Deutsch now up.

5/1

6th

2

21st May 2023

Good

2m 3f 98y

Class 5

14:35 Stratford

The Eminent Goose

11st 12lb

J: Dylan Whelan

T: Ben Pauling

Unexposed 7yo who was third on her point debut in 2021 (form worked out quite well) and also displayed clear promise when making the frame in two novice hurdles in March (2m3f/2m4f); switched to fences for today's handicap debut; likely contender.

3/1

2nd

8

22nd Mar 2023

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

14:05 Ffos Las

The Eminent Goose

11st 2lb

J: Dylan Whelan

T: Ben Pauling

fractious at the post, raced in last, headway before 7th, went second before 3 out, shaken up before 2 out, ridden and weakened approaching last, no match for winner

4/1

Verdict

There should be little between Mrs Grimley and Masked Matgil and they are preferred in that order. SPRING NOTE came unstuck on her hurdling debut but should relish the step.[Jonathan Neesom]