Sandown hosts a competitive card on Thursday with the feature being the Grade 2 Jane Seymour Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle. Our expert has produced a runner-by-runner guide to the contest, which comes alongside an exclusive 888sport sign-up offer of Bet £10 – Get £45.
WEATHERBYS CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL BETTING GUIDE JANE SEYMOUR MARES’ NOVICES’ HURDLE (2:20pm Sandown, Thursday 17th February, 2m4f)
1. HAUTE ESTIME (Lucinda Russell, Derek Fox) 9/2
Cut little ice in three bumper starts; albeit did chase home Eileendover at Wetherby on debut yet improved significantly for a switch to hurdles when running out a 20/1 winner at Kelso in October. Supplemented that in Listed company at Haydock last time, yet Nina The Terrier was just a half-length behind that day and meets on 5lb better terms here, so looks weighted to reverse the form.
2. LOVE ENVOI (Harry Fry, Jonathon Burke) 15/8
Picked up for £38,000 after landing a Wexford bumper for Sean Doyle last March and she has proven a shrewd purchase for the Noel Fehily Racing Syndicate, winning all three starts in their ownership for new trainer Harry Fry. Latest success came in a valuable mares’ novice hurdle at Lingfield’s Winter Million Festival and going back up half a mile won’t inconvenience on that evidence, yet she does have a little to find on official figures.
3. NINA THE TERRIER (Alan King, Tom Bellamy) 5/2
Bumper winner who has benefitted from the switch to hurdling, winning her first three starts in this sphere. Certainly not done with when falling at the final flight at Newbury in November, and that form has been boosted since. Subsequently looked unfortunate not to run down Haute Estime at Haydock, and a weights reverse should be enough to see her reverse that form. Yard amongst the winners and this stiff track should play to her strengths.
4. COQUELICOT (Anthony Honeyball, Jamie Moore) 18/1
One of the more experience runners making her thirteenth career start today. Listed bumper winner back in March 2020, and although a beaten favourite in her first three hurdles starts, she deservedly came good in this sphere when scoring at Chepstow in November. That came at handicap level, however, and she was beaten in a weaker race at Hereford yesterday, so her participation is in doubt entered up less than 24 hours later.
5. SPEECH BUBBLE (Noel Williams, Gavin Sheehan) 5/1
Ffos Las bumper winner on debut, and she went on to finish a 40/1 runner-up in a Listed bumper at this track. Respectable second to Russian Rumour on hurdles debut at Lingfield in November, and she went one better at Newbury next time. Track/ground is fine and less exposed than most but on a formline through the aforementioned Russian Rumour she has something to find with both Haute Estime and Nina The Terrier.
6. SWINCOMBE FLEAT (Anthony Honeyball, Harry Cobden) 25/1
Twice behind Speech Bubble in bumpers, a Fontwell victory splitting those efforts, yet she has improved for hurdles, justifying favouritism to score at Exeter in December. Once again saw the backside of Speech Bubble at Newbury last month, however, and no obvious reason to why she will be reversing the placings this afternoon.
7. LA RENOMMEE (Dr Richard Newland, Sam Twiston-Davies) 16/1
Winner in France for Etienne Leenders and subsequently picked up for an eye-catching €120,000 at the Arqana sales. Not unfancied at 9/2 for a Listed juvenile hurdle at Doncaster on last month’s stable debut, and although only fourth there, the slow pace didn’t play to her strengths. Hood now goes on and she receives a healthy weight-for-age allowance, but in truth this should prove a step too far at this stage of her career.
BIG RACE VERDICT
Love Envoi comes into this a perfect 4-4 under rules and must be respected but on official ratings it is worth nothing that she has 5lb to find with NINA THE TERRIER, and therefore it’s a little surprising to see Alan King’s mare a bigger price to land this event. The Charles Dingwall-owned 6yo got going too late when a half-length behind Haute Estime at Haydock in December, but a 5lb weight swing and stiffer track should see her reverse that form today and provide her in-form yard with yet another big race winner.
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