February 15 / 13.40 Newcastle

13.40

Heavy

quinnbet.com Mares’ Maiden Hurdle (Herring Queen Series Qualifier) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £4066.37
  • 2m 0f 190y
  • Class 4
  • 9 runners
SKY
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quinnbet.com Mares’ Maiden Hurdle (Herring Queen Series Qualifier) (GBB Race)

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

4/1 (Won)

  • Win: £4.40
  • Place: £1.40

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
Took seven attempts to win an Irish maiden point but fended off a mare with some fair rules form to prevail on soft ground in October; joined good stable for rules career and features prominently in calculations.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

16th

14

5th Aug 2025

Yielding

3m 0f 0y

18:20 Roscommon

Emilys Choice

10st 12lb

J: Eoin Staples

T: Colin Bowe

Won first two starts over hurdles last year on heavy ground for Donald McCain; disappointing in two chases for this yard and now returns to hurdling in blinkers.

25/1

9

23rd Jul 2025

Yielding To Soft

3m 1f 110y

17:20 Wexford

Emilys Choice

11st 4lb

J: Eoin Staples

T: Colin Bowe

Point-to-point winner won first two starts over hurdles last year on heavy ground for Donald McCain; no impact in two chase starts for that stable on quicker ground and similarly on recent yard debut at Tipperary; hard to fancy.

16/1

5

1st Jul 2025

Good To Yielding

2m 3f 155y

16:18 Tipperary

Emilys Choice

11st 7lb

J: Eoin Staples

T: Colin Bowe

Point-to-point winner won first two starts over hurdles on heavy ground for Donald McCain; no impact in two chase starts for that stable when last seen and is best watched on first start for new yard.

20/1

4/5

  • Place: £1.10

Form: 62

Last run: 33 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Fair Flat-racer; has lacked fluency on both hurdling starts for Lucinda Russell but battled on gamely for second on soft ground at Wetherby last month and has strong claims against own sex here here if she copes with the forecast heavy ground; tongue-tie added.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

12th Jul 2026

Good

2m 7f 207y

Class 4

16:26 Perth

Spit Spot

11st 5lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Dual C&D winner last autumn (good/soft); ended last season with some disappointing efforts, though, and looked badly out of sorts on both Flat appearances this spring; leap of faith required to support her today.

16/1

5th

4

(4)

5th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 7f 217y

Class 5

13:50 Musselburgh

Spit Spot

9st 2lb

J: Lexie Clarkson

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Won two 3m hurdles last autumn but has lost her way over jumps this year and was well beaten here (1m4f) when back on the Flat a fortnight ago, after a wind op; this longer trip ought to suit better but it still takes a leap of faith to support her.

14/1

6th

1

(3)

21st May 2026

Good

1m 4f 104y

Class 5

17:00 Musselburgh

Spit Spot

9st 9lb

J: Lexie Clarkson

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Won twice on AW in her youth; three hurdle wins since joining this stable, the latest at Perth last October; not so good this spring and a wind op last month needs to turn things around.

20/1

20/1

  • Place: £2.50

Form: 33P-7

Last run: 127 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Placed in two bumpers last season (both on good to soft) and was not beaten far when seventh of 11 on seasonal/hurdle debut at Sedgefield (2m1f, good) in October; open to improvement but not sure to be suited by today's ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

9

31st Mar 2024

Good To Soft

2m 0f 125y

Class 4

14:44 Market Rasen

Touch Of A Dragon

11st 6lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Micky Hammond

Third in a couple of bumpers; improved on hurdles debut run when a close third at Newcastle last time (2m, heavy); a contender.

8/1

3rd

6

15th Feb 2024

Heavy

2m 0f 190y

Class 4

13:40 Newcastle

Touch Of A Dragon

11st 4lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Micky Hammond

in touch with leaders, raced in second before 4th

20/1

7th

11

11th Oct 2023

Good

2m 0f 178y

Class 4

14:20 Sedgefield

Touch Of A Dragon

10st 10lb

J: Joshua Thompson

T: Micky Hammond

took keen hold, held up in rear, headway after 3 out

5/2

Form: 313 D

Last run: 51 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Just did enough to win soft-ground Sedgefield bumper in November, and her third under a penalty there (good to soft) on Boxing Day was also a good effort; ought to make her presence felt again on this hurdling debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

5

24th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 189y

Class 5

15:37 Kelso

Vanilla Dancer

11st 7lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Chris Grant

1-21 over hurdles, her win coming at Catterick in February; creditable efforts on all three runs since, including when second over C&D last month (good); sound run at Perth last time (2m5f, good); chance.

6/1

4th

3

6th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 189y

Class 5

16:00 Kelso

Vanilla Dancer

11st 12lb

J: William Maggs

T: Chris Grant

1-20 over hurdles; neck second in a mares' handicap here last month (2m5f, good); each-way chance.

3/1

2nd

3

2nd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 189y

Class 5

15:10 Kelso

Vanilla Dancer

11st 13lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Chris Grant

Just one win from her 19 hurdle starts but that came at Catterick (1m7f, soft) in February and she made a bad mistake when fourth at Carlisle (2m1f, soft) next time; she'll be fine now back up in trip and back on better ground, and could give a good account.

7/1

Form: 7988

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
A well-beaten outsider in both bumpers and on both hurdling starts; drops back from 2m4f today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

14th Nov 2024

Good

2m 7f 16y

Class 5

15:15 Market Rasen

Western Glen

11st 3lb

J: Nathan Moscrop

T: Gillian Boanas

held up in rear, pulled up before 2 out

5/1

7

14th Nov 2024

Good

2m 7f 16y

Class 5

15:15 Market Rasen

Western Glen

11st 3lb

J: Nathan Moscrop

T: Gillian Boanas

held up in rear, pulled up before 2 out

5/1

6

15th Oct 2024

Good

2m 7f 16y

Class 5

15:35 Market Rasen

Western Glen

11st 3lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Gillian Boanas

took keen hold, held up in rear, midfield before 8th, not fluent then lost ground 3 out, good headway home turn, went second before 2 out, hit 2 out, 5 lengths down when fell last

3/1

Form: 30

Last run: 40 days

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
Remote when third of five on debut at Hexham (heavy) in December and finished well down the field over C&D (soft) last month; stable has much more obvious chance with Spit Spot.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

4

9th Apr 2024

Soft

2m 3f 147y

Class 5

15:00 Hereford

Princess Of Mercia

11st 5lb

J: Ben Poste

T: Michael Scudamore

No more than minor promise in four runs for Lucinda Russell and took a backward step on her handicap debut a month ago at Carlisle (2m1f, soft; 28-1); wouldn't be the obvious answer to this.

25/1

7th

4

9th Apr 2024

Soft

2m 3f 147y

Class 5

15:00 Hereford

Princess Of Mercia

11st 5lb

J: Ben Poste

T: Michael Scudamore

No more than minor promise in four runs for Lucinda Russell and took a backward step on her handicap debut a month ago at Carlisle (2m1f, soft; 28-1); wouldn't be the obvious answer to this.

25/1

2

7th Mar 2024

Soft

2m 1f 0y

Class 5

15:45 Carlisle

Princess Of Mercia

11st 13lb

J: Stephen Mulqueen

T: Lucinda Russell

Blue Bresil mare who has hinted at promise in her three runs thus far, patiently ridden sixth in 2m Newcastle novice hurdle three weeks ago; she's in good hands and no surprise to see her take a big step forward now going handicapping.

9/2

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
13th foal; closely related to useful jumper Victor Hewgo and another hurdle/chase winner, half-sister to five winners including useful hurdlers Crowning Jewel and Sultans Pride; dam bumper/Flat winner; does not have daunting standard to reach on belated debut but best watched all the same.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

22nd Mar 2024

Heavy

2m 0f 48y

Class 4

14:20 Hexham

Audreys Pride

10st 12lb

J: Mr John Dawson

T: Paul Collins

Showed only a tiny glimmer of promise when seventh of nine in 2m1f mares' maiden at Newcastle (2m1f, heavy) on last month's belated debut and needs to take a big step forward today.

33/1

7th

1

15th Feb 2024

Heavy

2m 0f 190y

Class 4

13:40 Newcastle

Audreys Pride

11st 4lb

J: Mr John Dawson

T: Paul Collins

held up in rear, bumped 4th

14/1

Form: 5

Last run: 21 days

W: 10st 6lb

4 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Went close in a low-grade Flat handicap for Harry and Roger Charlton last June (1m2f, good to firm) but floundered on the soft ground when switched to hurdles for new stable three weeks ago.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

3

(3)

19th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 7f 217y

Class 6

14:58 Redcar

Lillistar

9st 1lb

J: Aiden Brookes

T: Micky Hammond

Winless since a breakthrough victory at Wolverhampton (2m) in October but she got back on song with third of five in 2m Catterick handicap in May; not ruled out.

7/2

3rd

6

(2)

30th May 2026

Good

1m 7f 189y

Class 6

15:35 Catterick

Lillistar

8st 11lb

J: Aiden Brookes

T: Micky Hammond

Over 6l behind Zephlyn over C&D last May; some fair form since (won over 2m at Wolverhampton in October) but not quite at her best back on turf last twice (over 2m5f and 1m4f); place chance.

8/1

5th

5

(5)

22nd May 2026

Good To Soft

1m 4f 5y

Class 6

20:22 Pontefract

Lillistar

8st 13lb

J: Aiden Brookes

T: Micky Hammond

Not at her best over hurdles or here (extended 2m5f) last month; drop in trip can help but others appeal more for win purposes.

10/1

OUR TIP

Form: 5/

Last run: 1801 days

W: 11st 4lb

9 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
Beaten about 58l when 50-1 for soft-ground Sedgefield bumper in March 2019 and not seen again since.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

4

6th Mar 2024

Soft

1m 7f 156y

Class 4

15:15 Catterick

Naughty Nancie

11st 0lb

J: Harry Reed

T: Tim Reed

Tailed off at 50-1 in bumper at Sedgefield in 2019 and first run since when same outcome at 200-1 over hurdles over C&D three weeks ago.

100/1

9th

3

15th Feb 2024

Heavy

2m 0f 190y

Class 4

13:40 Newcastle

Naughty Nancie

11st 4lb

J: James Best

T: Tim Reed

took keen hold, held up in rear, midfield after 3rd, jumped right and bumped rival 4th

100/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £8.80
Straight Forecast £7.15
Trifecta £41.90

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Spit Spot

RP RATINGS:

Spit Spot

POSTDATA:

Spit Spot

The Times:

Spit Spot

Telegraph:

Spit Spot

The Guardian:

Spit Spot

Daily Mail:

Spit Spot

D Express:

Spit Spot

Daily Mirror:

Spit Spot

The Sun:

Spit Spot

The Star:

Spit Spot

Daily Record:

Spit Spot