March 18 / 15.17 Kempton

15.17

Good To Soft

Virgin Bet Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (Novices’ Championship Hurdle Qualifier) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £4356.8
  • 2m 0f 0y
  • Class 4
  • 7 runners
RTV
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Virgin Bet Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (Novices’ Championship Hurdle Qualifier) (GBB Race)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

3/1 (Won)

  • Win: £3.75
  • Place: £1.50

Form: 1 D

Last run: 43 days

W: 10st 13lb

4 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Showed ability on the Flat and won on hurdle debut in a first-time hood (retained) at Catterick (1m7f, good) last month; this is likely to take more winning but this 4yo is open to improvement and is firmly in calculations.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

3

(10)

10th Oct 2024

Soft

2m 1f 24y

Class 6

13:25 Bath

Zestful

10st 0lb

J: Jack Doughty

T: Martin Keighley

Dual hurdle winner; only 6l away last time at Pontefract (2m1f, good to firm) on ground that would have been on the lively side for her; can see her going well.

15/2

5th

6

(2)

19th Sep 2024

Good

2m 1f 27y

Class 5

16:05 Pontefract

Zestful

9st 11lb

J: Dougie Costello

T: Martin Keighley

took keen hold, midfield, headway after 8f, outpaced over 2f out, kept on

10/1

11th

8

(9)

19th Aug 2024

Good

1m 4f 13y

Class 5

14:15 Catterick

Zestful

10st 13lb

J: Mr Freddie Keighley

T: Martin Keighley

midfield, outpaced then weakened over 3f out

12/1

10/11

  • Place: £1.10

Form: 1P24

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 9lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Won on hurdle debut at Hereford (2m3f, good to soft) in November and second in warm novice at Ffos Las (2m, soft) in January; fourth of five in Grade 2 mares' novice at Sandown (2m4f, good to soft) last month and has leading claims now back down in grade.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

6th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 1y

Class 4

14:15 Fakenham

Vicki Vale

12st 0lb

J: Lewis Stones

T: Deborah Cole

Dual hurdle winner when trained by Dan Sketon, but absent since her fourth at Ludlow (2m5f, good) for this stable in October 2024 and entitled to benefit from this outing.

20/1

2

29th Oct 2024

Good To Soft

2m 3f 123y

Class 4

13:50 Bangor-on-Dee

Vicki Vale

11st 8lb

J: Chris Ward

T: Deborah Cole

Dual hurdle winner for Dan Skelton, a yard she left after two quiet runs over fences; pulled up in that discipline on stable debut but showed a bit more spark back over hurdles at Ludlow; nothing wrong with her mark.

16/1

2

29th Oct 2024

Good To Soft

2m 3f 123y

Class 4

13:50 Bangor-on-Dee

Vicki Vale

11st 8lb

J: Chris Ward

T: Deborah Cole

Dual hurdle winner for Dan Skelton, a yard she left after two quiet runs over fences; pulled up in that discipline on stable debut but showed a bit more spark back over hurdles at Ludlow; nothing wrong with her mark.

16/1

Form: PP

Last run: 82 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Won an Irish mares' maiden point (3m, good) on debut last April but pulled up on her first two hurdle starts and a major turnaround is needed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

5

11th May 2023

Good

3m 1f 10y

Class 5

15:25 Huntingdon

First Venture

11st 11lb

J: Daryl Jacob

T: Tom Symonds

12l seventh at Stratford latest (16.5f) was a first glimmer of form since her good-ground Irish point win of a year ago; no chance has been taken with her mark, but first try at 3m under Rules offers some hope.

16/1

7th

3

23rd Apr 2023

Good

2m 0f 70y

Class 4

14:15 Stratford

First Venture

11st 4lb

J: Ben Poste

T: Tom Symonds

Holds poor claims on her slow-ground hurdles form but may improve back on forecast faster surface; Irish point win came on good.

25/1

3rd

5

18th Mar 2023

Good To Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

15:17 Kempton

First Venture

11st 2lb

J: Ben Poste

T: Tom Symonds

prominent, shaken up and weakened after 3 out

40/1

Form: 6

Last run: 26 days

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
Struggled on the Flat last year and well beaten at 250-1 on last month's hurdle debut at Lingfield (2m, good to soft).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

13

23rd Jan 2024

Soft

2m 4f 110y

Class 5

13:00 Leicester

Ceci Wells

10st 2lb

J: Elizabeth Gale

T: Paul Webber

prominent

33/1

4th

7

19th Nov 2023

Heavy

2m 3f 49y

Class 5

15:50 Fontwell

Ceci Wells

10st 2lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Paul Webber

led, pressed leader when headed 7th, kept on until no extra from last

40/1

OUR TIP

Form: 821 D

Last run: 35 days

W: 11st 9lb

5 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
Runner-up in Worcester bumper (2m, good) in final run for Martin Keighley and comfortably made all on last month's hurdle/stable debut at Uttoxeter (2m, good to soft); it was a weak race last time and others have more substance to their form, but she's a likeable prospect and is respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

18th Mar 2023

Good To Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

15:17 Kempton

Western Safire

11st 9lb

J: Patrick Cowley

T: L J Morgan

Runner-up in Worcester bumper (2m, good) in final run for Martin Keighley and comfortably made all on last month's hurdle/stable debut at Uttoxeter (2m, good to soft); it was a weak race last time and others have more substance to their form, but she's a likeable prospect and is respected.

11/4

8

12th Mar 2023

Soft

2m 2f 140y

Class 4

13:33 Market Rasen

Western Safire

11st 5lb

J: Patrick Cowley

T: L J Morgan

Delivered on promise shown in bumpers for Martin Keighley last spring when making all for clear win on last month's stable/hurdle debut at Uttoxeter (2m, good to soft), but has a lot more on her plate in a much stronger race here.

10/1

Form: 66

Last run: 87 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Displayed some ability when sixth in both bumpers (2m, good/AW) and she should have a future, but improvement is needed on hurdle debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

4th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 95y

Class 5

17:48 Fakenham

Eliza Dolittle

11st 7lb

J: Tabitha Worsley

T: Nick Gifford

Looked in excellent nick when making all for clearcut success at Plumpton (2m4f, soft) in February but was beaten about 30l over that C&D on next two outings; moves back up in trip with questions to answer.

8/1

6th

4

5th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 116y

Class 5

17:10 Plumpton

Eliza Dolittle

11st 1lb

J: Tabitha Worsley

T: Nick Gifford

Course regular who patently failed to give her true running here last time when much shorter in the betting than runner-up Ephyra; did it easily from the front over C&D the time before when 7lb lower; solid chance if back on song.

11/2

6th

4

16th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 116y

Class 5

16:45 Plumpton

Eliza Dolittle

11st 1lb

J: Tabitha Worsley

T: Nick Gifford

Made all to notch her third C&D win (soft; from 7lb lower) three weeks ago; that was in a mares' contest but she was a comfortable winner and this track brings out the best in her; one of the likeliest candidates.

15/8

Form:

Last run:

W: 10st 6lb

4 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
1m2f Flat winner but her peak RPR in that code was 68 and she needs to improve for the switch to hurdles if she's to make an impact today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

15th May 2025

Good

2m 1f 162y

Class 4

17:35 Fontwell

Crazy Maisie

11st 0lb

J: Marc Goldstein

T: Mark Hoad

Struggled in basement-grade AW races this year and did achieve much on her two previous hurdling attempts; makes no appeal.

100/1

2

15th May 2025

Good

2m 1f 162y

Class 4

17:35 Fontwell

Crazy Maisie

11st 0lb

J: Marc Goldstein

T: Mark Hoad

Struggled in basement-grade AW races this year and did achieve much on her two previous hurdling attempts; makes no appeal.

100/1

3

(7)

24th Mar 2025

Standard

1m 2f 0y

Class 6

17:17 Lingfield (AW)

Crazy Maisie

9st 9lb

J: Robert Havlin

T: Mark Hoad

2-32 and hasn't shown any worthwhile form in over a year; hard to fancy.

50/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £5.20
Straight Forecast £4.63
Trifecta £37.50

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Vicki Vale

WEST COUNTRY:

Zestful

The Star:

Western Safire

Daily Record:

Western Safire

RP Ratings:

Vicki Vale

TOPSPEED:

Vicki Vale

POSTDATA:

Vicki Vale

The Guardian:

Vicki Vale

Daily Mail:

Vicki Vale

D Express:

Vicki Vale

Daily Mirror:

Vicki Vale

The Sun:

Vicki Vale

The Times:

Zestful

Telegraph:

Zestful