Heverlee Mares' Handicap Hurdle (qualifier For The Northern Lights Mares' Hurdle)

Off time: 15:55 | Winning time: 6m 9.77s

Dark Sunset³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 0-0| J: Lorcan Murtagh⁽⁵⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 112

7/1

Winner of three of her seven starts over hurdles, but handicap mark has been rising and she was was only fourth of six at Catterick last time. Fair chance of bouncing back to form off 1lb lower with good claimer taking off 5lb.

Form: 145414

My Old Gold³⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 0-0| J: Craig Nichol| T: N G Richards| OR: 112

13/8

Dual point-to-point winner who has been placed on both starts over hurdles for current yard. Not obviously well treated on her first start in a handicap, but is open to improvement with so few miles on the clock.

Form: 211-32

Lochnell¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 0-0| J: Henry Brooke| T: I A Duncan| OR: 110| CD

6/1

Winner of this race last year off an 8lb lower mark. Pulled up in the Eider Chase two starts ago and finished a well-beaten fourth when switched back to hurdles at this track yesterday. Not hard to oppose if turning out again.

Form: 42112P

Our Valentina^p³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 0-0| J: J J Slevin⁽³⁾| T: S R B Crawford| OR: 108

13/2

Justified favouritism in a similar contest at Carlisle in December, but has struggled off higher marks in two subsequent races. Back down to only 2lb higher than when last successful and has bright prospects if back on song.

Form: 15-415P

Crawfords Mill³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 0-0| J: B S Hughes| T: S R B Crawford| OR: 105

6/1

Signs of ability in three maiden hurdles and now trying her luck in a handicap for the first time. Stable also has Our Valentina in the race and it will be interesting to see which horse the market favours.

Form: 444-204

Haul Us In¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 0-0| J: Blair Campbell⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 96

4/1

Has hit the frame in four of her six hurdle races and has been runner-up in the last two. Clearly due a change of luck, but has gone up 3lb for those latest efforts, which makes her task that little bit harder.

Form: 3-26622

Forecasts

My Old Gold (13/8), Haul Us In (4/1), Crawfords Mill (6/1), Lochnell (6/1), Our Valentina (13/2), Dark Sunset (7/1)

Lochnell looks up against it if attempting to repeat last year's win after finishing well beaten yesterday, while Haul Us In has beeen going up in the weights for finishing second and Dark Sunset and My Old Gold look high enough in the weights. Irish stable companions OUR VALENTINA and Crawfords Mill have appealing claims and the latter gets a narrow vote now she has slipped back to a viable handicap mark.