Racecards
15:00 Southwell
E.B.F. Mares' Only 'National Hunt' Maiden Hurdle (Qualifier) (Class D)
- 13 Runners
- Distance: 2m
- Going: Good
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer Mrs H Dalton
- Jockey A O'keeffe
jumped left 1st, always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
Clichy
231- Form 306-
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer J Parkinson & S Smith
- Jockey J R Ryan
mid-division, ridden 6th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
Cream Cracker
164- Form 50-4
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer Ms Bridget Nicholls
- Jockey J M Maguire
mid-division, headway 6th, ridden when pecked 2 out, soon weakened
- Form 3034
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer J Parkinson & S Smith
- Jockey T Halliday
chased leaders, ridden after 5th, weakened 3 out
- Form 3030-5
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer P R Webber
- Jockey T Doyle
with leader, led 2nd to 5th, led again approaching 2 out, driven out
Marsh Run
29- Form 21101-2
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer M & D Easterby
- Jockey Mr T Greenall
jumped right, hampered 3rd, always behind
Maryland (IRE)
175- Form 02/10-3
- Age 7
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer O Brennan
- Jockey Mr S G Carey
held up, ridden after 6th, soon weakened
Opera Hall
224- Form 36-
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer H D Daly
- Jockey R Thornton
in touch, blundered 6th, weakened next
- Form 10-24
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
led to 2nd, stayed prominent, outpaced after 3 out, kept on to take moderate 3rd flat
- Form 03/00-
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer J Jefferson
- Jockey M Seston
mid-division, pushed along after 5th, weakened after next
Teenager
225- Form 50-
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer P Wegmann
- Jockey T Scudamore
not jumped well, always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 3rd
Topanberry (IRE)
239- Form 20-
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer N G Richards
- Jockey P Robson
help up, headway 6th, ridden and every chance final furlong, not quicken
In depth
Verdict
The vote here goes to Marsh Run ahead of possibly Opera Hall, Maryland, Cream Cracker and Oscar's Vision. The Mick Easterby-trained selection looked a mare of some promise when winning a Listed bumper at Sandown in March, although that success came on testing going. Her hurdling debut over course and distance was also promising and, in what is a race that appears to lack strength in depth, she gets the call. Clichy, Vicky Bee, Topanberry, Opera Hall and Emerald Express have all shown bumper promise, although the latter has yet to transfer that to hurdling. Ding Dong Belle has looked beatable in this sphere so far, a similar comment applying to Oscars Vision, although they have both displayed some ability, while Cream Cracker has to improve to feature here, despite having also shown some promise. Maryland did well in bumpers last season, although she finished a long way behind the selection at Sandown. This brings us back to Marsh Run, who looks the one to beat.