April 27 / 17.50 Taunton

17.50

Good

C & D Southwest Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £4792.48
  • 2m 0f 104y
  • Class 4
  • 5 runners
RTV
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C & D Southwest Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Rain

4/6 (Won)

  • Win: £1.54
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 1P242 BF

Last run: 40 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 119

Form & Verdict
Won on hurdle debut at Hereford (2m3f, good to soft) in November; some tough assignments in four runs since but she was second in a warm novice at Ffos Las (2m, soft) in January and filled the same position behind a useful rival at Kempton last month; has pulled hard at times but she has leading claims on her best form and should be hard to beat.
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

OUR TIP

15/8

  • Place: £1.10

Form: 412 CD BF

Last run: 66 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Triple Flat winner (7f-1m2f) who made a promising start over hurdles at Lingfield (2m, good to soft) in December and built on that when scoring over C&D (good) in February; held under a penalty at Lingfield last time but that was a clear second behind her main market rival and she still has potential in this sphere; respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

5

19th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

2m 6f 7y

Class 4

15:23 Stratford

Parikarma

10st 10lb

J: Miss Imogen Mathias

T: Samuel Drinkwater

Slightly disappointing at Perth last week but was placed on consecutive outings beforehand, once over C&D on fast ground; swaps blinkers for refitted visor (worn once on Flat in 2020); no surprise if she's on the premises.

6/1

7th

8

12th Jul 2026

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 4

15:16 Perth

Parikarma

10st 7lb

J: Miss Imogen Mathias

T: Samuel Drinkwater

Three-time hurdle winner who is finding her feet after a long absence and she's an assured stayer over this far; looks handicapped about right but has each-way claims.

7/1

2nd

2

13th Jun 2026

Good

2m 7f 70y

Class 5

20:17 Uttoxeter

Parikarma

11st 13lb

J: Miss Imogen Mathias

T: Samuel Drinkwater

Has three wins over hurdles but not firing on all cylinders since returning from a lengthy layoff in February; steps up in trip but others preferred.

8/1

Form: 5P2318 D

Last run: 49 days

W: 10st 13lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Ended ten-race French hurdling career with easy win in a Cagnes-sur-Mer claimer (2m1f, very soft; refitted cheekpieces) in January; looks interesting on that form but she was disappointing on her British/stable debut last month and has something to prove after that heavy defeat.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

8

24th Nov 2023

Heavy

2m 3f 100y

Class 4

14:15 Chepstow

Sniper Point

10st 12lb

J: Ned Fox

T: Alexandra Dunn

2m1f hurdle winner in France in January; yet to shine for her new stable but she's dropped 19lb in three runs; worth a market check.

40/1

7th

6

6th Nov 2023

Good To Soft

1m 7f 195y

Class 4

15:37 Plumpton

Sniper Point

11st 0lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Alexandra Dunn

Easily won claiming hurdle on very soft ground in France in January but started off for Alexandra Dunn with two underwhelming novice runs towards end of last season; of interest only if strong in the betting.

40/1

Form: 66

Last run: 235 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Big prices and finished a well-held sixth of seven in two good-ground bumpers last summer; half-sister to a useful jumper but this looks a tough starting point over hurdles and she is best watched on her return.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

14th Nov 2024

Good To Firm

2m 0f 104y

Class 4

13:40 Taunton

Astro Babe

10st 9lb

J: James Best

T: Michael Blake

Poor form over hurdles for Evan Williams and David Pipe; has a hood refitted on first outing for Michael Blake; big improvement will almost certainly be needed.

50/1

4

14th Nov 2024

Good To Firm

2m 0f 104y

Class 4

13:40 Taunton

Astro Babe

10st 9lb

J: James Best

T: Michael Blake

Poor form over hurdles for Evan Williams and David Pipe; has a hood refitted on first outing for Michael Blake; big improvement will almost certainly be needed.

50/1

5th

4

20th Sep 2024

Good

2m 5f 122y

Class 4

14:10 Newton Abbot

Astro Babe

10st 11lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: David Pipe

in touch with leaders, jumped left and bumped rival 4th, went second 6th, lost position after 7th, weakened quickly 3 out, tailed off

33/1

Form: 74

Last run: 49 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
Finished in midfield in two Wincanton bumpers (1m7f, good to soft) this year, most recently when a remote fourth of eight last month; still very early days but she needs a transformation on this switch to hurdling.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

24th Mar 2026

Good

2m 2f 40y

Class 5

16:45 Taunton

Ryders Rock

10st 11lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Joe Tizzard

Made a winning chasing debut at Newton Abbot (2m5f) in May; failed to stay 3m1f when fourth there subsequently but shaped encouragingly reverted to hurdles after seven months off when third in 2m2f Exeter handicap 18 days ago; merits serious consideration back in this sphere.

7/2

3rd

8

6th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 2f 111y

Class 5

17:18 Exeter

Ryders Rock

10st 12lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Joe Tizzard

Has switched to fences this term, winning in May but regressing in two summer starts; only 1-18 over hurdles and she has never won away from Newton Abbot.

12/1

4th

4

21st Aug 2025

Good

3m 1f 170y

Class 5

15:20 Newton Abbot

Ryders Rock

11st 4lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Joe Tizzard

Battled on from unlikely position to score by 8l here (2m5f, good) on chasing debut in May, an eventful race in which the clear leader fell two out, but it's wise to treat that piece of form with a degree of caution; only fourth of six at Fontwell (2m3f, good) last time; tries a new trip today.

7/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £1.70
Straight Forecast £1.87
Trifecta £3.90

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Vicki Vale

WEST COUNTRY:

Sniper Point

Telegraph:

Parikarma

RP Ratings:

Vicki Vale

TOPSPEED:

Vicki Vale

POSTDATA:

Vicki Vale

The Times:

Vicki Vale

The Guardian:

Vicki Vale

Daily Mail:

Vicki Vale

D Express:

Vicki Vale

Daily Mirror:

Vicki Vale

The Sun:

Vicki Vale

The Star:

Vicki Vale

Daily Record:

Vicki Vale