December 28 / 14.10 Catterick

14.10

Good

Sky Bet Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (Herring Queen Series Qualifier) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £4356.8
  • 1m 7f 156y
  • Class 4
  • 11 runners
RTV
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Sky Bet Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (Herring Queen Series Qualifier) (GBB Race)

Runners: 11 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

5/6 (Won)

  • Win: £1.45
  • Place: £1.02

Form: 22

Last run: 42 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
Joined Fergal O'Brien after winning Irish point debut in February and has finished second in two good-quality bumpers this autumn, the latest a Listed race at Cheltenham (good); could be very hard to beat on hurdling debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

15th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 3f 100y

Class 3

15:55 Chepstow

Siog Geal

12st 1lb

J: Fern O’Brien

T: Fergal O’Brien

Second in a Listed bumper last season and won the mares' final at Newbury (2m4f handicap, good) in March; that was off 10lb lower but she's proving herself off this mark and only just missed out on the places at Leopardstown last time (2m2f, heavy); should have every chance.

2/1

5th

4

1st Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 2f 0y

12:40 Leopardstown

Siog Geal

11st 8lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Fergal O’Brien

Second in a Listed bumper last season and won the mares' final at Newbury (2m4f handicap, good) in March on her fourth start over hurdles; useful standard of form overall; second when favourite at Cheltenham last time; interesting but may find the locals too good.

6/1

6/1

  • Place: £1.30

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 0lb

4 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Fair Flat racer who posted career-best performance when winning for Hughie Morrison in September (1m6f, heavy); changed hands for 70,000gns in October and it will be interesting to see how she fares on this stable/hurdle debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

1st Nov 2025

Soft

2m 0f 110y

Class 3

15:40 Ayr

Surrey Belle

11st 10lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Adrian Paul Keatley

7-23 overall and she arrives on a roll after wins over hurdles at Hexham (2m, good to soft) in June and on the Flat here (1m5f, good to soft) in September; should make a chaser and could be hard to peg back if getting into a good rhythm.

11/4

1

1st Nov 2025

Soft

2m 0f 110y

Class 3

15:40 Ayr

Surrey Belle

11st 10lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Adrian Paul Keatley

7-23 overall and she arrives on a roll after wins over hurdles at Hexham (2m, good to soft) in June and on the Flat here (1m5f, good to soft) in September; should make a chaser and could be hard to peg back if getting into a good rhythm.

11/4

7/2

  • Place: £1.90

Form: 41

Last run: 44 days

W: 11st 7lb

5 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Fairly useful Flat racer who came good over hurdles at second attempt with clearcut success in modest mares' maiden at Sedgefield (2m4f, good) last month; has more on her plate under a penalty here but should cope with the drop back in trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

22nd Jan 2026

Soft

2m 3f 154y

Class 5

13:55 Wetherby

Reel Rosie

11st 5lb

J: William Shanahan

T: Jennie Candlish

On a reduced mark and she took a step back in the right direction at Sedgefield in November in this headgear combination, but she was still soundly beaten in third and needs to build on that effort today.

20/1

9th

3

30th Sep 2025

Good

2m 3f 188y

Class 5

15:37 Sedgefield

Reel Rosie

11st 13lb

J: William Shanahan

T: Jennie Candlish

Not firing on all cylinders this year but her respectable fifth at Uttoxeter (2m4f, good) 19 days ago was a step back in the right direction and it's worth remembering that her only hurdle win was gained over this C&D.

11/2

2

11th Sep 2025

Good

2m 3f 207y

Class 5

18:35 Uttoxeter

Reel Rosie

12st 0lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Jennie Candlish

Out of form on the Flat/over hurdles in the spring and, following a three-month break, fell in early stages of a recent chase; should cope if there's rain about but needs to get career back on track.

12/1

OUR TIP

Form: 70-35

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Shaped with significant promise before weakening into third on hurdling debut at Huntingdon (2m3f, good) in November but never got competitive at Doncaster (2m3f, good) last month, having again raced too freely; may benefit from today's drop in trip and has a bigger run in her at some stage but she needs to learn to settle.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

14th Feb 2025

Good

2m 5f 44y

Class 4

14:08 Fakenham

Aunty Christine

10st 7lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Lucy Wadham

Soundly beaten on last month's handicap hurdle debut (2m3f) but there was significant promise in her earlier qualifying runs and she remains very unexposed; no surprise if she displays the necessary improvement on today's chasing debut.

6/1

9th

5

20th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 0y

Class 5

14:40 Warwick

Aunty Christine

11st 11lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Lucy Wadham

Failed to get home, having taken a good hold, in novice hurdles; may settle better and improve with hood applied on handicap debut.

9/1

9th

5

20th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 0y

Class 5

14:40 Warwick

Aunty Christine

11st 11lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Lucy Wadham

Failed to get home, having taken a good hold, in novice hurdles; may settle better and improve with hood applied on handicap debut.

9/1

Form: /76-15

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
Caused 50-1 shock on hurdling debut at Perth (2m4f, good to soft) in May but that form isn't anything to get too excited about and she was well beaten (albeit on soft ground) when reappearing this month (2m5f); drops in trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

8

23rd Feb 2026

Soft

2m 4f 100y

Class 4

16:00 Ayr

Nellie Bluesky

10st 13lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Ewan Whillans

Lightly raced since 50-1 win on hurdle debut at Perth (2m4f, good to soft) in May 2024, and she got back on track with close second of six at Sedgefield (2m4f, good to soft) last month; could be in the mix if this slower ground isn't an issue.

9/1

2nd

3

25th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 188y

Class 5

16:10 Sedgefield

Nellie Bluesky

11st 11lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Ewan Whillans

Caused 50-1 shock on hurdling debut at Perth (2m4f, good to soft) in May 2024 but safely held all three starts since; last month's handicap debut (2m2f) came after a one-year absence and she might come on for the run but others here have more pressing claims.

12/1

1

28th Dec 2024

Good

1m 7f 156y

Class 4

14:10 Catterick

Nellie Bluesky

11st 7lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Ewan Whillans

midfield

12/1

Form: 25/F

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Runner-up in soft-ground Newcastle bumper two years ago but her second bumper run was underwhelming and, following a long absence, she fell at the second flight when 40-1 for recent hurdling debut, having taken a keen hold; sports first-time hood today; may be best watched at present.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

3

21st Jan 2025

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

13:30 Ayr

Chalk That Down

11st 4lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Donald McCain

Debut runner-up in Newcastle bumper in 2022 but she failed to offer much in a pair of 2m novice hurdles at Wetherby and Catterick (hooded) last month; lots more is required.

20/1

8th

3

21st Jan 2025

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

13:30 Ayr

Chalk That Down

11st 4lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Donald McCain

Debut runner-up in Newcastle bumper in 2022 but she failed to offer much in a pair of 2m novice hurdles at Wetherby and Catterick (hooded) last month; lots more is required.

20/1

4

28th Dec 2024

Good

1m 7f 156y

Class 4

14:10 Catterick

Chalk That Down

11st 0lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Donald McCain

midfield

20/1

Form: 35

Last run: 101 days

W: 11st 0lb

4 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Placed in good-ground Perth bumper on debut in August but took a backward step when only fifth of seven at Kelso the following month and looks up against it on this hurdling debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

3

16th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 171y

Class 4

14:30 Musselburgh

Ghidora

11st 5lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Adam Nicol

Fair third on debut in bumper at Perth last August but her form has gone the wrong way since and she's struggled on both hurdle starts.

66/1

6th

4

26th Jan 2025

Soft

2m 3f 188y

Class 4

14:40 Sedgefield

Ghidora

11st 2lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Adam Nicol

Showed some ability in her two bumpers (both on good ground) but pulled up at 150-1 on last month's hurdle debut at Catterick (1m7f, good); now wears a hood; hard to fancy after that latest run.

66/1

6th

4

26th Jan 2025

Soft

2m 3f 188y

Class 4

14:40 Sedgefield

Ghidora

11st 2lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Adam Nicol

Showed some ability in her two bumpers (both on good ground) but pulled up at 150-1 on last month's hurdle debut at Catterick (1m7f, good); now wears a hood; hard to fancy after that latest run.

66/1

Form: 99-166 D

Last run: 50 days

W: 11st 0lb

4 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Made all to cause 22-1 surprise in six-runner Warwick bumper (good to soft) in September, her third run, but was safely held hurdling on both subsequent starts; probably one for low-grade handicaps after this.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

6

(11)

11th May 2026

Good

1m 4f 13y

Class 6

16:30 Catterick

Lady Buttercup

9st 4lb

J: Hollie Doyle

T: Donald McCain

0-7 over hurdles and hasn't threatened on her first three Flat starts; however, this bumper winner goes up in trip off a lowly opening Flat mark and Hollie Doyle has been booked; no surprise to see a good run.

8/1

7th

2

(2)

26th Apr 2026

Good

1m 2f 0y

Class 3

15:00 Wetherby

Lady Buttercup

10st 2lb

J: Andrew Mullen

T: Donald McCain

Bumper winner in September 2024 but 0-7 over hurdles, followed by two low-level performances under Flat rules; best watched for now.

100/1

1

(2)

11th Sep 2025

Standard

1m 2f 42y

Class 5

16:55 Newcastle (AW)

Lady Buttercup

9st 8lb

J: David Nolan

T: Donald McCain

Bumper winner last September but is 0-7 over hurdles; made some modest late gains when fifth of seven on Flat debut at Ripon (1m2f, good) 17 days ago; likely wants further.

50/1

Form: 87

Last run: 14 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Fair Flat racer at up to 1m2f (five wins) but well beaten on both hurdling attempts this autumn and needs to be a completely different proposition today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

(8)

17th Oct 2025

Standard

1m 0f 5y

Class 6

20:30 Newcastle (AW)

Shes Got Bottle

9st 3lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Lizzie Quinlan

Disappointing (0-13) since joining Lizzie Quinlan, last of 12 at Catterick (7f, soft; 50-1) over a fortnight ago; hopes pinned squarely on these newly applied cheekpieces and an AW return (0-7) providing the spark; risky even from this plummeting mark.

66/1

11

(13)

1st Oct 2025

Good To Soft

0m 7f 6y

Class 5

16:50 Catterick

Shes Got Bottle

9st 1lb

J: Darragh Keenan

T: Lizzie Quinlan

0-12 (Flat and hurdles) for current stable; edging down the weights but she doesn't look in the sort of form required to capitalise, especially from the widest stall.

33/1

9

(6)

18th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

1m 0f 0y

Class 5

15:45 Ayr

Shes Got Bottle

9st 3lb

J: Andrew Mullen

T: Lizzie Quinlan

Runner-up at Carlisle (1m, soft) last September and now 4lb lower but she's struggled on her four starts this year (two hurdles, two Flat).

33/1

Form: 8-05

Last run: 46 days

W: 11st 0lb

4 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Well down the field in two bumpers for Paul Webber in the spring and also struggled on last month's stable/hurdle debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

28th Dec 2024

Good

1m 7f 156y

Class 4

14:10 Catterick

Spinnova

11st 0lb

J: Alice Stevens

T: Billy Aprahamian

in rear, awkward jump 3rd, struggling from 5th

66/1

9

28th Dec 2024

Good

1m 7f 156y

Class 4

14:10 Catterick

Spinnova

11st 0lb

J: Alice Stevens

T: Billy Aprahamian

in rear, awkward jump 3rd, struggling from 5th

66/1

5th

6

12th Nov 2024

Good

1m 7f 171y

Class 4

14:00 Huntingdon

Spinnova

11st 0lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Billy Aprahamian

raced in third, went second after 3rd, pressed leader 5th

25/1

Form: 34

Last run: 14 days

W: 11st 0lb

4 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Low-grade Flat winner on stable debut in September (1m4f, good to soft); made the frame on first two hurdling starts (1m7f/2m1f) but was safely held on both occasions and has quite a bit to find.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10

8th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 125y

Class 5

14:45 Market Rasen

Susiesparkle

10st 5lb

J: William Maggs

T: Mike Sowersby

0-10 over hurdles and still operating too far below her 2024-25 level to consider; pulled up behind Bunker Bay over C&D latest.

50/1

8

5th Apr 2026

Good

2m 0f 125y

Class 5

16:33 Market Rasen

Susiesparkle

10st 4lb

J: William Maggs

T: Mike Sowersby

Doubled her Flat tally with low-grade AW win in February 2025 but has poor record over hurdles and on the Flat since last summer; difficult to enthuse over.

33/1

7th

8

10th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 178y

Class 5

13:38 Sedgefield

Susiesparkle

10st 2lb

J: Oscar Palmer

T: Mike Sowersby

Doubled her Flat tally with low-grade AW win just over a year ago but has poor record over hurdles/on the Flat for this stable since last summer; 2lb out of the weights; difficult to enthuse over.

66/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £3.00
Straight Forecast £2.74
Trifecta £7.40

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Siog Geal

Daily Mail:

Nellie Bluesky

The Guardian:

Surrey Belle

RP RATINGS:

Siog Geal

POSTDATA:

Siog Geal

WEST COUNTRY:

Siog Geal

The Times:

Siog Geal

Telegraph:

Siog Geal

D Express:

Siog Geal

Daily Mirror:

Siog Geal

The Sun:

Siog Geal

The Star:

Siog Geal

Daily Record:

Siog Geal