March 08 / 14.20 Catterick

14.20

Good

Mrs Todd’s Birthday Celebrations Start Today Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (Herring Queen Series Qualifier)

  • Prize money: £4356.8
  • 1m 7f 156y
  • Class 4
  • 9 runners
RTV
View Course
Mrs Todd’s Birthday Celebrations Start Today Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (Herring Queen Series Qualifier)

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

Form: 821 D

Last run: 25 days

W: 11st 7lb

5 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
Out of half-sister to smart jumper Rathlin; runner-up in the second of her two bumpers last summer and she made all when switched to hurdling at Uttoxeter (2m, good to soft) last month; that was in a weak race but she put in a dominant display and could have a lot more to offer in this sphere; respected under a penalty.
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: 38

Last run: 8 days

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
Bought for £80,000 after winning an Irish point in October but she's been disappointing in two hurdle runs here (3m1f/1m7f, good) this year; still early days in this sphere but was beaten 46l last week and she needs major improvement; hood added.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

7th Jun 2024

Good

2m 1f 43y

Class 5

16:20 Market Rasen

Beauty To Behold

12st 0lb

J: Ben Smith

T: R Mike Smith

Irish point winner but he's 0-10 over hurdles and has finished tailed off at Perth (2m4f/2m) in last two runs; went close off this mark three runs back but he needs a major revival on this switch to chasing; all runs have been on good or slower.

8/1

9th

2

16th May 2024

Good To Soft

2m 0f 47y

Class 5

14:50 Perth

Beauty To Behold

11st 12lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: R Mike Smith

Perth regular (form figures 323327); narrowly beaten over 2m4f (soft) here last September but fluffed her lines next time (trainer was unable to offer an explanation); runner-up in this race last year, so no major surprise if she bounces back to form after a 232-day absence.

13/2

9th

2

16th May 2024

Good To Soft

2m 0f 47y

Class 5

14:50 Perth

Beauty To Behold

11st 12lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: R Mike Smith

Perth regular (form figures 323327); narrowly beaten over 2m4f (soft) here last September but fluffed her lines next time (trainer was unable to offer an explanation); runner-up in this race last year, so no major surprise if she bounces back to form after a 232-day absence.

13/2

OUR TIP

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
Won a point (good to soft) last March but she was held in her last four runs in that sphere including a disappointing effort in her last run in January; now switches to hurdling and she's probably best watched.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

16th Mar 2023

Heavy

2m 0f 48y

Class 4

13:50 Hexham

Feel The Breeze

10st 13lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: James Walton

Winner of a small-field maiden point against her own sex last spring for the Waltons before four defeats at short prices; the market will show what's expected.

33/1

Form: 23/3-5 D

Last run: 41 days

W: 11st 0lb

7 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
Dual bumper winner who was third in the mares' Grade 2 event at Aintree in April 2021; has been held in only two hurdle runs since but she showed clear promise at Wetherby (2m, good) last February and wasn't disgraced in a big field there on her return in January; shaped as though she needed that run and she still has plenty of potential in this sphere; key player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

3rd Jun 2023

Good

2m 0f 48y

Class 4

14:20 Hexham

Miss Lamb

11st 0lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Jedd O’Keeffe

Won C&D maiden on heavy ground in March and runner-up over C&D on both subsequent appearances (heavy/good to soft); today's faster ground may not be ideal but her handicap mark is workable and, if her useful bumper form is a guide, she may yet do better over hurdles.

15/8

2nd

5

6th May 2023

Good To Soft

2m 0f 48y

Class 4

18:40 Hexham

Miss Lamb

11st 1lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Jedd O’Keeffe

novicey jumping, led

11/8

2nd

4

30th Mar 2023

Heavy

2m 0f 48y

Class 4

14:45 Hexham

Miss Lamb

11st 5lb

J: Billy Garritty

T: Jedd O’Keeffe

Off the mark at the third attempt over hurdles over C&D (heavy) a fortnight ago, which was her second start back from another absence; has the potential to be better than this opening mark in view of her useful bumper form.

5/2

Form: 6-76

Last run: 29 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Didn't live up to market expectations in a Musselburgh bumper (6-4) last March and she's struggled at big prices in two hurdle runs this winter; opposable.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11

16th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 189y

Class 5

17:20 Uttoxeter

Sawpit Samantha

10st 2lb

J: Benjamin Macey

T: Jo Davis

0-17 and she beat only one in 2m4f Warwick handicap chase in March; a change of headgear is adopted now.

50/1

8th

9

26th Mar 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

15:28 Warwick

Sawpit Samantha

10st 2lb

J: Jack Hogan

T: Jo Davis

0-14 over hurdles and soundly beaten last of three on last month's chase debut at Leicester; others are preferred.

33/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 10st 4lb

4 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Had three Flat runs for the Crisfords last year and she showed plenty of promise in two of them, including when a close third at Kempton (1m4f, AW) in September; changed hands for 35,000gns two months later and she's an interesting recruit to hurdling for new yard; hood replaces cheekpieces.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

8

15th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

17:10 Aintree

Golden Glance

10st 8lb

J: Toby Wynne

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Won a Haydock maiden hurdle in 2023 (2m3f, good to soft) and lightly raced in the meantime; tailed off in her last three handicaps and had wind surgery since the latest; risky.

25/1

9th

8

18th Apr 2026

Good

2m 7f 32y

Class 4

16:42 Bangor-on-Dee

Golden Glance

11st 2lb

J: Toby Wynne

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Sole win was in a Haydock maiden (2m3f, good to soft) in April 2023 and she's finished tailed off in both runs since returning from a long absence in December; has plenty to prove and she's untried at this trip.

25/1

7th

9

19th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 55y

Class 4

16:20 Ludlow

Golden Glance

11st 1lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Haydock maiden hurdle (2m3f, good to soft) winner in April 2023 who had bits and pieces of handicap form the following season; tailed off on her return from a 617-day absence at Wetherby (about 2m5f, soft) in December and that outing will have needed to bring her on a good deal.

25/1

Form: 5P

Last run: 125 days

W: 10st 4lb

4 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Showed some promise on the Flat for William Haggas but she's struggled in both hurdle runs for current yard, more recently when pulled up at Sedgefield (2m1f, soft; 40-1) in November; has had wind surgery but she needs a transformation after another break.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

5

(6)

6th Jun 2023

Good To Firm

1m 5f 0y

Class 6

18:15 Wetherby

National Charter

9st 4lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Chris Grant

held up in rear, pushed along over 3f out, ridden and struggling over 2f out, lost touch from over 1f out, eased inside final furlong

10/1

14

16th May 2023

Good

2m 4f 62y

Class 5

14:50 Newcastle

National Charter

10st 2lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Chris Grant

Showed nothing more than glimmers of promise over hurdles last season (four starts) and is 6lb out of the weights for today's handicap debut but was placed in a fast-ground handicap on the Flat last spring and is unexposed on a sound surface in this sphere; worth a glance in the betting.

20/1

8

14th Apr 2023

Soft

2m 0f 178y

Class 4

15:20 Sedgefield

National Charter

10st 3lb

J: Alan Doyle

T: Chris Grant

One of the lesser lights for William Haggas on the Flat and she's not achieved much in three hurdle runs for new stable; no appeal.

66/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 10st 4lb

4 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Showed little at big prices in two Flat runs (1m/7.3f) for Mick Channon in August 2021; changed hands for £2,000 last summer and can only be watched now switched to hurdling after a long absence.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

14

25th Mar 2023

Good To Soft

2m 3f 123y

Class 4

13:23 Bangor-on-Dee

Penumbra

10st 2lb

J: Mitchell Bastyan

T: Stella Barclay

Showed no promise in two Flat races for Mick Channon on 2021 and, after a very awkward jump at the first, was already detached when pulled up before second flight on recent hurdling debut; hood fitted here.

250/1

11

17th Mar 2023

Good

2m 0f 128y

Class 4

14:40 Doncaster

Penumbra

10st 6lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Stella Barclay

Poor form in two runs on the Flat (7.5f/1m) for Mick Channon in August 2021; sold for £2,000 since; best watched on stable/jumps debut.

50/1

Form: 25

Last run: 8 days

W: 10st 4lb

4 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
1m6f Flat winner for Andrew Balding in the autumn but she's not achieved much in two hurdle runs for current yard, more recently when a 31l fifth over C&D (good) last week; in good hands and it's still early days in this sphere but she needs to show a lot more with cheekpieces added.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

1

(6)

16th Jan 2024

Standard

1m 5f 219y

Class 6

14:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Virtuoso

9st 9lb

J: Ben Robinson

T: Donald McCain

Turf winner over this trip when with Andrew Balding; moderate form over hurdles and last in two starts in this code since joining current trainer; drops 4lb and in grade.

33/1

11th

9

(1)

5th Jan 2024

Standard

1m 6f 21y

Class 5

15:32 Southwell (AW)

Virtuoso

9st 6lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Donald McCain

disputed lead, led after 1f, headed over 2f out, soon weakened

40/1

8th

15

19th Dec 2023

Good To Soft

2m 3f 66y

Class 5

14:30 Catterick

Virtuoso

10st 2lb

J: Peter Kavanagh

T: Donald McCain

Fair on the Flat; hasn't progressed over hurdles (well beaten on handicap debut at Sedgefield last time); needs to improve for this step up in trip.

16/1

Verdict

The very useful bumper performer MISS LAMB showed clear promise on her hurdling debut last February and she shaped as though she needed the run when a fair fifth in a big field at Wetherby on her comeback. She retains significant potential in this sphere and gets the vote ahead of the penalised Western Safire, who kicked off her hurdling career with an unchallenged win at Uttoxeter last month. Another to consider is Golden Glance, who had some fairly useful form on the Flat last year and looks interesting on her switch to jumping.[David Moon]

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Miss Lamb

Telegraph:

Western Safire

POSTDATA:

Golden Glance

Daily Mail:

Western Safire

The Sun:

Western Safire

Daily Mirror:

Golden Glance

RP Ratings:

Miss Lamb

The Times:

Miss Lamb

The Guardian:

Miss Lamb

D Express:

Miss Lamb

The Star:

Miss Lamb

Daily Record:

Miss Lamb