15:00 Kelso

Saturday 22 March 2025

All13:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:45

Ladbrokes Herring Queen Series Final Mares' Novices' Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

4YO plus | Class 2 | 2m 51y | 12 Runners | Turf

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Selected odds by:

SKY BET EXTRA PLACE RACESky Bet paying 4 places instead of 3

Surrey Belle^t²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: B S Hughes| T: A Keatley| OR: 121| D

4/1

Fairly useful winner on the Flat and has taken well to hurdles, runner-up on first 2 starts in this sphere prior to landing the odds in mares' novice events at Uttoxeter (2m, heavy) and Newcastle (20.3f, good). More on her plate under joint top-weight here but she's a major player nonetheless.

Form: 2211

Rula Bula³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Benjamin Macey⁽⁷⁾| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 121| BF| D

11/1

Fairly useful in bumpers and perfect start in this sphere when a ready winner of mares' maiden at Market Rasen in November. Improved when second at listed level next time but form has dipped the last twice (beaten 17 lengths by Game Colours at Lingfield last time) and she needs to get back on track.

Form: 42-12P2

Tour Ovalie⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: Isabel Williams⁽³⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 120| D

10/1

Progressive mare who completed the hat-trick in a Newbury handicap in December. Added to her tally when taking an 11-runner Taunton mares' novice (16.5f, soft) last month and subsequent effort at the Cheltenham Festival was no backward step. However, she's on a stiff mark back in handicap company.

Form: 111919

Walkadina^t²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Jack Tudor| T: D Pipe| OR: 118| BF| D

11/2

Made winning hurdles debut at Uttoxeter in November and there was no disgrace in her effort in listed company next time. Not at her best in novice events at Wincanton and Ludlow the last twice but it would be no surprise were she to take a step back in the right direction now handicapping.

Form: 22-1432

Game Colours^t³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: Ben Clarke| OR: 116| D

15/2

Pulled up on debut in November 2023 but subsequent wind operation has seemingly proved the catalyst for transformation, placed first 4 starts following that procedure and then opened her account in good style at Lingfield (2m, soft) where she slammed Rula Bula by 17 lengths. Solid each-way claims.

Form: P3-2231

Assorda^t¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Emma Smith-Chaston⁽³⁾| T: Paula Smith| OR: 116| D

25/1

Claimed from Gabriel Leenders' yard for €21,506 after scoring at Pau and provided an immediate return on investment when landing a 4-runner Catterick novice (15.7f, good to firm). Had luck on her side that day (left in the lead at the final flight), though, and more needed now handicapping.

Form: 24-4611

Sunset Hill¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Nathan Moscrop| T: S Corbett| OR: 115| C

16/1

Opened hurdles account in 21f novice here in December before posting an excellent second of 7 in a Southwell handicap on New Year's Day. Has found life tougher since, though, and she doesn't appear to hold any secrets from the handicapper.

Form: 212553

Green Sky³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: J J Slevin| T: S R B Crawford| OR: 113

9/1

Fairly useful Flat winner who has placed 3 times from 6 starts over hurdles, leaving Joseph O'Brien after final outing last season. Good third in big-field Navan maiden on penultimate start in November but proved a let-down back from a break at Newcastle and she needs to raise her game.

Form: 33F-434

Northern Air^t⁶³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Liam Harrison| T: F O'Brien| OR: 110| D

7/2

Point winner who improved on the back of a second wind op and with a tongue strap enlisted when landing a mares' maiden at Taunton (16.5f, good to soft) in January. That form is working out well and she's of strong interest now handicapping off what looks a fair opening mark.

Form: 162-251

Leloopa^t³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Tom Broughton⁽⁵⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 108| D

22/1

Irish import who improved with each of her first 4 starts over hurdles for new yard, making all in mares' hurdles at Hereford and Huntingdon in October/November. However, she was safely held on handicap bow back from a break last month and Northern Air appears to be the stable No 1.

Form: 642117

Barrabool⁴⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Alice Stevens⁽³⁾| T: Harry Derham| OR: 105| D

7/1

Made the most of a good opportunity in 3-runner Plumpton maiden on hurdles debut in November. Well held next time but back on track when 6½ lengths second to Tour Ovalie at Taunton (16.5f, soft) last time and meets that rival on significantly better terms now handicapping. One to consider.

Form: 35-2152

Lizzie Luna³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Craig Nichol| T: Ewan Whillans| OR: 105

11/1

Opened hurdles account when landing a 7-runner Musselburgh maiden (19.8f, good to soft) last month, clearly suited by moving up in trip. Not sure that dropping back in distance here will be a good thing but the likely strong pace could help in that respect and she's not without each-way hope.

Form: 778241

Forecasts

Surrey Belle (5/1), Northern Air (11/2), Walkadina (6/1), Barrabool (6/1), Game Colours (7/1), Lizzie Luna (10/1), Rula Bula (10/1), Tour Ovalie (10/1), Green Sky (12/1), Assorda (14/1), Leloopa (20/1), Sunset Hill (20/1)

Harry Derham has his string in good order and fields an appealing candidate here in BARRABOOL, who couldn't match strides with Tour Ovalie in a Taunton novice but she has a good chance of reversing those placings on these revised terms now pitched into a handicap, while the forecast quicker ground may also aid her cause. There are dangers aplenty, with Northern Air feared most ahead of the hat-trick seeking Surrey Belle and Walkadina.