Newbury Hennessy Meeting - E.B.F. Mares' 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle

1.00 Newbury
E.B.F. Mares' 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle (Class 3) (4YO plus)
Winner £6,505

Pick: Line Freedom (win)

Sparky May: Improved when following up Worcester win with something in hand at Lingfield last time looking as if a longer trip would improve her; Should go well although this tougher task.

Alverstone: Improved a lot in the jumping department when opening hurdling account over 3m at Chepstow last month, romping home by 14 lengths; Impossible to know what exactly she achieved when doing so and interesting to see how she will cope with drop down in trip.

Annimation: Showed likeable attitude when winning bumper and again game in recovering from mistake 3 out when just getting better of Naughty Naughty on seasonal debut; Was receiving nearly a stone from runner up, so has it all to do in this company.

Line Freedom: Unfortunately failed to really make mark over bumpers but had started out with 22 length win on debut (seemingly injured after) and ran sound race when just failing to give 7lbs to runner up over final bumper start; Back on track when making impressive winning start over hurdles at Towcester recently and worth chance here.

Fillyofthevalley: Well held both starts in bumpers in 2007 and fared no better on sole hurdling start in April.

Hill Forts Gloria: Has made the frame on both hurdles starts, and needs to take big step forward to match four previous winners here, even if improving for step up in trip (and gets weight off 4 main contenders).

Old Dungarvan: Big price/green when soundly beaten in weaker event at Lingfield on debut recently.

VERDICT: All the makings of a tight race here with 4 previous winners. Alverstone will be a popular choice to follow up a romp at Chepstow but it’ll be interesting to see how she copes with a drop in trip and the 'bounce' factor (that was her first run since December last year). Useful bumper performer LINE FREEDOM made a bright start to her hurdling career when scoring gamely over 2m at Towcester (second won since) and should take the beating here with that under her belt. Sparky May and Annimation add further spice to a good race.