The Harry Derham-trained BARRABOOL (nap) could be on a good mark back on better ground for her handicap debut and she earns the vote ahead of old rival Tour Ovalie, who has enjoyed an excellent season. The return to a sounder surface could be a major plus for Rula Bula but cases can be made for several of these, including Surrey Belle, Game Colours and Northern Air.[Ben Hutton]
Watch Live UK & Irish Racing
Simply place a bet of £5 or more on
any UK or Irish race to watch the action live!
Three-time Flat winner who scored at Uttoxeter (2m, soft) last month on third hurdle start and easily followed up in Newcastle novice (2m4f, good to soft); brings potential to this handicap hurdle debut; respected.
Won on hurdle debut at Market Rasen (2m4f, good to soft) in November and good Listed second at Newbury (2m, good to soft) next time; pulled up in January (heavy) and no match for Game Colours at Lingfield (soft) last month, but today's return to better ground could be right up her street.
Won three handicaps in a row (2m, good/good to soft) towards the end of last year and added a novice win at Taunton (2m, soft) last month; respectable ninth in the mares' novice hurdle at last week's Cheltenham Festival and she could have more to offer now back at a realistic level; contender.
Below par at Wincanton in December and turned over at odds-on at Ludlow last month, following wind surgery; however, she's not ruled out in view of the promise she showed on her first two hurdle starts in November.
Fair third on handicap debut at Fakenham (2m4f, good) in January and easily won Lingfield novice (2m, soft) last month; she's unexposed at this sort of trip and could have a big say now back in a handicap.
Won big-field claiming hurdle in January on final French start (2m3f, heavy) and fortunate to follow up on British debut in Catterick novice this month (1m7f, good; leader fell at final flight); not obviously well treated for her first British handicap.
The drop back in trip seems a likely negative but she won a novice in good style here (2m5f, soft) in December and was a creditable second on handicap debut at Southwell (2m4f, soft) next time; fared okay at Ayr (2m5f, soft) a fortnight ago despite rider suffering an injury; not discounted.
0-7 over hurdles and improvement is needed if she's take this (also needs to bounce back from below-par run); however, there's potential in this 5yo's current mark based on her Flat ability and she's not written off.
Point winner who landed a maiden hurdle at Taunton (2m, good to soft) in January when wearing a first-time tongue-tie (retained) on her first outing since a second wind operation; needs another step forward on this handicap debut but she's lightly raced and in good hands to continue to progress.
Only seventh on handicap debut at Ludlow (2m, good to soft) last month and something to prove after that, but she may have needed that first run in 99 days; won Hereford maiden (2m, good) and Huntingdon novice (2m, good) in the autumn and retains potential for respected stable; not ruled out.
Comfortably made all in three-runner maiden on hurdle/stable debut at Plumpton (2m, good) in November; her two subsequent novice runs have been on soft ground and she was a creditable second behind Tour Ovalie at Taunton (2m, soft) last month; benefits from sizeable pull in the weights with that rival today and retains potential now back on better ground for handicap debut.
Built upon previous promise to win on handicap debut at Musselburgh last month; appeared to benefit from step up to 2m4f (good to soft) on that occasion but this unexposed 5yo is not ruled out back down in trip.
1/4 Odds Place 1,2,3
( Pool guide displayed could change before the race starts & should be used as a guide only )
