grandnational.fans Mares' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:21 | Winning time: 6m 12.3s

Big Penny^t¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: R P McLernon| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 119| D

3/1

Victorious over an extended 2m3f at Bangor (good-to-soft) in October. Put a disappointing handicap debut behind her when finishing runner-up over an extended 3m on good-to-soft ground in a first time tongue tie (retained) here last time.

Form: 12-2162

What A Diva^t¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: James Bowen⁽⁵⁾| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 112| D

5/1

Disappointing since completing a double when winning over this trip at Towcester (heavy) in February. Fair effort last time out but has shown her best form on ground softer than is forecast today.

Form: 1150-85

Midnight Glory²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 111| BF

15/8

Sole success came over an extended 2m4f at Newbury (soft) in February. Stepped up on a disappointing seasonal debut when finishing fourth on good-to-soft ground at Ascot over an extended 2m5f last time and she is one to note upped in trip.

Form: 8153-P4

Perfect Summer^v²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: B S Hughes| T: Ian Williams| OR: 109| C

7/1

Placed a couple of times on the Flat this autumn but finished well beaten on her return to hurdles over 2m5f at Cheltenham (soft) last time out. More needed if she's to take this contest.

Form: 11133-0

Lady Mix²³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: Danny Cook| T: N J Hawke| OR: 109

25/1

Made a winning debut in a Newbury bumper on soft ground in March but has failed to add to that success in four subsequent outings. Steps up markedly in trip for today's handicap debut.

Form: 12-665

Dark Sunset⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: W T Kennedy| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 108

5/1

Dual hurdles winner during the summer most recently when left clear in a match race at Bangor (good) in August. Tackles this trip for the first time having been held in handicap company since.

Form: 2-11454

Forecasts

Midnight Glory (15/8), Big Penny (3/1), Dark Sunset (5/1), What A Diva (5/1), Perfect Summer (7/1), Lady Mix (25/1)

MIDNIGHT GLORY has run well over this trip in the past and she can register her second career success in this concluding mares handicap hurdle. The selection put in a decent effort last time out and can get the better of Big Penny who finished a good second here last time out while What A Diva is taken to finish third with any overnight rain a positive with regards her chances.