Hereford best bet: Bold bid expected from Newmill Getaway

14:07 Hereford: Download PlanetSportBet App Mares’ Handicap Hurdle (2 miles 3½ furlongs)  

Imperial Jade comes into the race with the form and credentials to justify her early favouritism. Never out of the frame in five outings in her debut campaign last winter, Charlie Longsdon’s five-year-old ran well for much of her handicap and season debut at Doncaster a month ago and has scope for further improvement.

Such is the open nature of this handicap hurdle that the next six in the betting are separated by barely a couple of points, headed by Super Dawn, who looks of definite interest here as she makes her stable debut for new trainer James Owen, and will be piloted by Harry Cobden, whose booking could be significant here.

Come On Du Berlais has been placed in 10 of her 12 starts, including seven runner-up spots and an early bumper success, and so should be taken seriously, as should I Look How I Look, who could be a different proposition now handicapping for the in-form yard of Dan Skelton.

With five places widely available, each-way options abound, and of the real outsiders Quiet Thunder could outrun her price off a low mark, while Mitchell Hunt’s Just Go For It won twice in March and might be interesting on her return from an extended break.

However, the horse to have caught the attention of both the betting market and Tipstrr’s each-way specialists is Newmill Getaway, from the small string of David Brace, who has seen 18 of his 38 runners make the frame so far this season, including 7 winners.

This capable five-year-old finished first, second and third in three late-summer bumper outings, and made a promising start over obstacles when runner-up of eight on her hurdling debut at Exeter in October.

She will need to bounce back from her two most recent outings, the second of which was over this course and distance in November, but she should now return fresh from a 55-day break, while the application of first-time cheekpieces should help jockey Connor Brace get the best out of her on handicap debut.

Newmill Getaway was available at a tasty 16/1 last night, and while that value has been gobbled up, the fact that her price has halved suggests that she is expected to put in a decent effort here.