2025 Ladbrokes Herring Queen Series Final Mares' Novices' Handicap Hurdle Preview
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Ladbrokes Herring Queen Series Final Mares’ Novices’ Handicap Hurdle
3:00pm Kelso
The Ladbrokes Herring Queen Series Final Mares’ Novices’ Handicap Hurdle features a substantial prize fund of £100,000, with £51,440 awarded to the winner. To qualify, horses must have finished in the top six of a Herring Queen Mares’ Novices’ or Mares’ Maiden Hurdle Series Qualifier during the current season. A relatively recent addition to the National Hunt calendar, the race was first run in 2022. Interestingly, the winners of the 2022 and 2023 renewals carried 11st 12lb or more to victory, while the 2024 winner, Lily Du Berlais, carried 11st 6lb. This suggests that horses higher in the handicap are worth noting. However, since this is still a relatively new race, there isn’t a large sample size for analysis.
Runner By Runner Guide
1.Surrey Belle – Qualified at Uttoxeter last month when making all to win comfortably by four lengths off a mark of 114. She then followed up at Newcastle, again making all to win by a staggering 57 lengths. While that race didn’t look particularly strong, and she was sent off as the 4/7F, she couldn’t have been any more impressive. A 7lb rise looks fair enough for that victory, and she could still be capable of defying this new mark. However, this contest is much stronger than the races she has been competing in. She has been targeted at this race for some time and can’t be ignored in her current form.
2.Rula Bula – Qualified at Newbury and was last seen finishing second at Lingfield on soft ground, which probably wasn’t ideal for her. She previously won over 2m4f at Market Rasen on good ground and then improved on that effort when finishing runner-up in a Listed Hurdle at Newbury behind a smart performer from Dan Skelton’s yard. She has the re-opposing Walkadina behind in 4th. That form was boosted when the third-placed horse, Jubila Alpha, won her next two starts before finishing down the field at the Cheltenham Festival. She brings black-type form to this lineup and will be hard to ignore, especially with a 7lb claimer taking off a useful chunk of weight.
3. Tour Ovalie – Qualified at Taunton with a comfortable six-length victory off a mark of 116. That performance was sandwiched between two below-par efforts in the Sovereign Hurdle and the Grade 2 Mares’ Novice Race at Cheltenham just nine days ago, where she ran off 118. Despite that, she has been raised another 2lb to 120. She put together a strong sequence of wins late last year, climbing from a rating of 101 to 116. However, this new mark looks steep, and while she’s capable of running well, she’s best left alone.
4. Walkadina – Another horse who qualified at Uttoxeter, making all in a first-time tongue tie. She has hit the frame in her three subsequent runs, including a fourth-place finish behind Rula Bula at Newbury. After finishing second at Ludlow last time, she underwent a wind operation. This mark looks workable and there’s every chance she will continue to benefit from the procedure. But has work to do to reverse the placings.
5. Game Colours – Qualified at Lingfield last time out, she was an impressive wide-margin winner, scoring by 17 lengths with Rula Bula well beaten in second. She held her form well throughout the 2024 season, finishing in the first three on all three starts. A 4lb rise still leaves her fairly well treated, having recorded an RPR of 120 last time out. The drop back in trip was justified that day, and she remains fairly unexposed over this distance. With a strong pace likely, her assured stamina is a great asset in a race of this nature.
6. Assorda– Was perhaps a fortunate winner on her British debut, with the 1/16F falling when 2 lengths ahead at the final hurdle. That said, she was in the process of giving that horse a race, and the pair pulled well clear of the eventual runner-up. Watching the replay, they recorded a speed of 38mph approaching the final flight, which may have contributed to the favourite’s mistake. Interestingly, the handicapper has dropped her 3lb for the win, and taking her jockey’s claim into account, she is effectively 6lb lighter for that victory. While she’ll need to prove that the win wasn’t a fluke, she can’t be ignored given the circumstances.
7. Sunset Hill– Qualified by finishing second at Hexham over this trip in November. She improved on that performance with a dominant win over 2m5f at this venue 30 days later. However, she has been well held in her last four starts, and given the strength of this race, she’s likely best watched.
8. Green Sky– Qualified after finishing a well-held fourth at Newcastle, behind two horses that were entered in this race. She has struggled to make a significant impact off this mark in her two outings in England this season. However, her third-place finish at Doncaster behind the subsequent Martin Pipe winner, Wodhooh, is encouraging. She has each-way potential but will need to prove she can defy this mark.
9. Northern Air – Qualified at Lingfield, finishing fifth, which was arguably her worst run of the season. However, she has shown consistent form throughout, including a strong victory at Taunton last time out. That was her first race following a wind operation and the application of a tongue tie. The form looks solid, as the horses finishing 3rd and 4th have since won. Given her generous opening mark, she has a big chance in this race.
10. Leloopa – Qualified at Huntingdon after making all to win by 6 lengths. This victory marked her second win off a handicap mark of 107, following a previous success at Hereford. She made a satisfactory return to action last time out, finishing 7th of 9 after 99 days off the track. The form of that race looks solid, with both the winner and third-placed horses winning next time out. Leloopa has since dropped to a very attractive mark, just 1lb higher than when she last won. Additionally, her jockey’s claim adds further value. She is another front-runner, with an each-way chance.
11. Barrabool – Qualified at Plumpton when winning a three-runner race. She has been highly tested since and has not been disgraced in her two runs this season, both in competitive races. Notably, she finished behind Tour Ovalie at Taunton. This race has likely been the target for a while, and there has been some support for her earlier in the week. Her trainer is experienced in these types of races, and her opening mark looks very appealing.
12. Lizzie Luna– She qualified with a win at Musselburgh last time out, showing significant improvement from her previous performances this season, where she was well held in all but one of her hurdle starts. While there has been some E/W money for her, she still looks opposable in this contest.
Race Overview
This looks like a highly competitive race with several contenders holding strong claims. Surrey Belle is an obvious starting point after demolishing her rivals at Newcastle last time out. A 7lb rise for that dominant win seems fair, and it may not be enough to stop her from following up here. However, she is just one of many front-runners in the field, which could make it harder for her to dominate.
Both Northern Air and Walkadina also like to race prominently, and each holds solid claims. Both are making their second start since undergoing wind surgery, but preference is for the Martin Pipe-trained Walkadina, who finished a respectable fourth in Listed company back in November.
Barrabool is another to note, having attracted market support earlier in the week for Harry Derham. Meanwhile, at a big price, Assorda is one to keep an eye on, having given a 1/16 shot a real race before that horse departed when leading at the last hurdle. But she has dropped 3lb for winning.
This is a deep and competitive contest where cases can be made for many. However, Game Colours stands out as a strong each-way bet. She comfortably saw off the re-opposing Rula Bula at Lingfield last month on her first attempt at two miles; she remains unexposed at this trip. A 4lb rise for that 17-length victory seems lenient,considering she recorded a RPR of 120 and she looks capable of rating higher in the future. With solid form over further, the anticipated strong pace should play to her strengths. She could be overlooked in this deep race.
SELECTION = GAME COLOURS 0.5 POINTS E/W – 17/2 GENERALLY
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In Form Tipster (August)
In Form Tipster (August):
Cotswold Racing
Key stats:
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Points profit: |
32.00 |