3 minute read

Thomas Hodgson returns with two selections over jumps, one from Southwell and one from Fontwell Park…

In what looks set to be a competitive affair, I'm siding with Bella's Bridge in the Sky Sports Racing Virgin 535 Mares' Novices' Hurdle (15:53) at Southwell.

On paper, she has the best bumper form of the race, having beaten subsequent maiden hurdle winners Lady Jago (now rated 110) and Roaring Home comprehensively. If this alone isn't a reason to side with her, it is worth re-looking at the victory in a strong Dromahane point-to-point last year, where she defeated useful Irish hurdlers True Testimony and One Night Standard in a sound jumping display.

Gavin Sheehan takes the ride, who has been riding exceptionally recently, returning a 28% strike rate since the start of the season and the £155,000 price tag suggests that Bella's Bridge can be firmly in the mix late on.

WIN – BELLA'S BRIDGE – 15/8

For a conditions-based pick, Tuscan Rose makes most appeal in the Best Odds Guaranteed at BetMGM Mares' Novices' Hurdle (16:45) at Fontwell.

Having posted strong speed figures on the way to a hard-fought victory over three miles at Taunton in March, she could be poised to run up a sequence having only been upped 4lb for her trouble.

Neil Mulholland's charge goes well on soft, and the booking of Sam Twiston-Davies appears to be a shrewd move, given his red-hot form so far this jumps season. Whilst fitness will be a question mark for many of these, the drop back in trip should suit the mare on return from summer break and she has shown the pace to relish a sharper test.

Tuscan Rose is a proven winner in maiden company, and could easily take advantage of the weight received from the field to land another success.

WIN – TUSCAN ROSE – 100/30