February 25 / 13.10 Newcastle

13.10

Standard To Slow

Fresh Approach At Vertem Mares’ Open National Hunt Flat Race (Category 1 Elimination) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £2614.08
  • 2m 0f 56y
  • Class 5
  • 7 runners
SKY
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Fresh Approach At Vertem Mares’ Open National Hunt Flat Race (Category 1 Elimination) (GBB Race)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: NH Flat AW

Surface: Tapeta

Weather: Cloudy

11/8 (Won)

  • Win: £2.88
  • Place: £1.50

Form: 1 CD

Last run: 49 days

W: 11st 9lb

5 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
From the family of the stable's high-class mare La Bague Au Roi and she looked promising herself when quickening right away over C&D last month; the bare form is nothing special but she couldn't have won more easily and Dylan Kitts rides again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

23rd Apr 2025

Good

2m 5f 55y

Class 5

16:10 Ludlow

Ici La Reine

10st 9lb

J: Shane Quinlan

T: Mel Rowley

Two bumper wins early in 2023 kicked off her career but she's struggled over hurdles and pulled up on recent chase debut; fourth run for this yard and they now turn to headgear.

20/1

9

23rd Apr 2025

Good

2m 5f 55y

Class 5

16:10 Ludlow

Ici La Reine

10st 9lb

J: Shane Quinlan

T: Mel Rowley

Two bumper wins early in 2023 kicked off her career but she's struggled over hurdles and pulled up on recent chase debut; fourth run for this yard and they now turn to headgear.

20/1

3

2nd Apr 2025

Good

2m 3f 48y

Class 5

14:55 Exeter

Ici La Reine

11st 6lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Mel Rowley

Two bumper wins for previous yard but she's generally struggled in six hurdle runs and was last of ten in a Southwell handicap (2m, good to soft) last month; dropped another 5lb but has plenty to prove back up in trip on chase debut.

6/1

3/1

  • Place: £1.50

Form: 54

Last run: 16 days

W: 10st 4lb

4 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Hooded for both her runs, not beaten far when fifth of 15 at Ludlow (soft) and fourth of 16 at Huntingdon (good); as a 4yo filly receiving plenty of weight off the penalised winner she is strongly considered.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

19th Nov 2025

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

14:35 Warwick

Mavis Pike

11st 2lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Well held by Chuggy on her chase debut/reappearance at Uttoxeter (2m, good) in October but she was by no means done with when coming down at the last at Fakenham (2m5f, good to soft) three weeks ago; got a 1lb nudge for that and should be competitive if it hasn't left a mark.

5/1

3

29th Oct 2025

Good

2m 5f 44y

Class 4

15:37 Fakenham

Mavis Pike

11st 7lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Dual 2m course winner over hurdles, most recently off 2lb lower; shaped as though her chase debut was needed this month when back from a break and her pedigree suggests she may improve for this longer trip.

11/4

3

29th Oct 2025

Good

2m 5f 44y

Class 4

15:37 Fakenham

Mavis Pike

11st 7lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Dual 2m course winner over hurdles, most recently off 2lb lower; shaped as though her chase debut was needed this month when back from a break and her pedigree suggests she may improve for this longer trip.

11/4

Form:

Last run:

W: 10st 4lb

4 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Second foal; dam unraced half-sister to 1m3f/1m4f winner Process and 1m2f-11.5f winner Combative; stable has had a bumper winner this season so market needs checking.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

23rd Sep 2024

Good

2m 0f 178y

Class 4

14:30 Sedgefield

Storm Spirit

10st 11lb

J: Joshua Thompson

T: Micky Hammond

Placed in AW bumpers but exposed as limited on the Flat and she unseated early on hurdling debut; others preferred.

33/1

8

17th Aug 2024

Good

2m 0f 125y

Class 4

16:45 Market Rasen

Storm Spirit

10st 7lb

J: Alice Stevens

T: Micky Hammond

Placed in two AW bumpers but she's exposed as limited on the Flat and can be taken on here; hood added.

50/1

4th

5

(6)

2nd Aug 2024

Good To Firm

1m 5f 0y

Class 6

20:50 Musselburgh

Storm Spirit

9st 12lb

J: Miss Becky Smith

T: Micky Hammond

prominent, weakened over 2f out

25/1

Form: 38

Last run: 18 days

W: 10st 4lb

4 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Third behind Ici La Reine here on debut, then finished last in Listed event at Market Rasen; Brian Hughes takes over but she has to improve.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

9

1st Oct 2024

Good

2m 3f 188y

Class 4

15:35 Sedgefield

Woogrey

10st 11lb

J: Miss Pippa Brown

T: Danny Brooke

Showed some promise in bumpers, but has been disappointing in two runs over hurdles; others appeal more.

50/1

0

11

29th Nov 2023

Good To Soft

2m 0f 51y

Class 4

12:30 Kelso

Woogrey

11st 0lb

J: Miss Pippa Brown

T: Craig Lidster

held up in rear, not fluent 1st

100/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
Fourth foal; half-sister to 2m1f hurdle winner Billable Grant; dam unraced sister to 10.6f and 1m6f Flat/2m and 2m4f hurdle winner Mosman Park; worrying that the yard is 0-16 in bumpers in recent seasons.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

6

24th May 2023

Good

1m 7f 182y

Class 5

19:20 Southwell

Forceta

10st 9lb

J: Aaron Anderson

T: Mike Sowersby

took keen hold, held up in rear, pushed along 6f out, ridden and no impression from 5f out

25/1

1

13th May 2023

Good To Soft

2m 0f 48y

Class 5

17:05 Hexham

Forceta

11st 2lb

J: Aaron Anderson

T: Mike Sowersby

4

20th Mar 2023

Good To Soft

1m 7f 182y

Class 5

15:05 Southwell

Forceta

11st 2lb

J: Aaron Anderson

T: Mike Sowersby

Half-sister to 2m1f hurdle winner Billable Grant; 200-1 on debut in Newcastle mares bumper (2m, AW) when not disgraced, beaten 21l in finishing fifth and being promoted to fourth; will need significant improvement to figure.

100/1

OUR TIP

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Fifth foal; half-sister to winners Ganapathi (1m4f AQPS Flat/useful 2m-2m4f hurdle/chase), East Of The Valley (1m4f/2m1f AQPS Flat/2m1f-2m2f hurdle/chase) and Foly's Bach (2m4f cross-country chase); dam 1m4f AQPS Flat winner and placed 2m1f hurdle; trainer has success in these races so definitely considered.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

3

25th Feb 2023

Standard To Slow

2m 0f 56y

Class 5

13:10 Newcastle

Ivoire DAvril

11st 2lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Rebecca Menzies

Fifth foal; half-sister to winners Ganapathi (1m4f AQPS Flat/useful 2m-2m4f hurdle/chase), East Of The Valley (1m4f/2m1f AQPS Flat/2m1f-2m2f hurdle/chase) and Foly's Bach (2m4f cross-country chase); dam 1m4f AQPS Flat winner and placed 2m1f hurdle; trainer has success in these races so definitely considered.

13/2

Form: 4

Last run: 100 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
The only filly in the field when never-dangerous fourth on soft ground here; bred to want further and that appeared to be the case on debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

5

10th May 2024

Good

2m 3f 188y

Class 5

18:20 Sedgefield

Miss Arabella

11st 2lb

J: Ryan Mania

T: Sandy Thomson

Placed in a bumper in September and on two of her first three hurdling starts (2m/2m4f); her form isn't anything to go wild about but she seems versatile regarding ground and is open to improvement in handicaps.

11/1

7th

5

10th May 2024

Good

2m 3f 188y

Class 5

18:20 Sedgefield

Miss Arabella

11st 2lb

J: Ryan Mania

T: Sandy Thomson

Placed in a bumper in September and on two of her first three hurdling starts (2m/2m4f); her form isn't anything to go wild about but she seems versatile regarding ground and is open to improvement in handicaps.

11/1

3rd

5

18th Feb 2024

Soft

2m 3f 171y

Class 4

13:45 Musselburgh

Miss Arabella

11st 5lb

J: Ryan Mania

T: Sandy Thomson

Five starts and yet to really threaten, but she's finished second in a Kelso bumper (2m, good) and a maiden hurdle at Southwell (2m, heavy), and the wind op and the step up in trip could prompt a bigger run today.

7/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £6.30
Straight Forecast £4.93
Trifecta £42.30

Selections

RP Ratings:

Ici La Reine

SPOTLIGHT:

Mavis Pike

Daily Mail:

Ivoire D'Avril

WEST COUNTRY:

Mavis Pike

The Guardian:

Mavis Pike

POSTDATA:

Ici La Reine

LAMBOURN:

Ici La Reine

The Times:

Ici La Reine

Telegraph:

Ici La Reine

D Express:

Ici La Reine

Daily Mirror:

Ici La Reine

The Sun:

Ici La Reine

The Star:

Ici La Reine

Daily Record:

Ici La Reine