High Aura (14:30 Newton Abbot — Juvenile Maiden Hurdle, 2m 1f)
A three-year-old grey filly by Too Darn Hot, trained by Dan Skelton — firing at 24% over the last fortnight — and partnered by his brother Harry, who is equally red-hot at 25%. High Aura showed plenty on her debut at Stratford last month, finishing third of five at 7/2 second favourite, but the bare form flatters to deceive — she was green, took too keen a hold and did far too much early, yet still ran on gamely for a long way before the exertions caught up with her. A filly learning fast.
Today in a small field of just five, with experience behind her and the Skelton operation knowing exactly what they have, normal improvement from that debut should make her very hard to beat.
Verdict: Back to win at 1/1 — experience will tell, top yard, and that debut run was better than it looks.
