Racing To School Mares' Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 14:40 | Winning time: 5m 51.20s

Viva Vittoria³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Aidan Coleman| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 121

8/11

Took a significant step up on previous form when scoring at Market Rasen (2m4f, good) last month. That looks very solid, and she should give a very good account in her follow-up bid. Acts on soft.

Form: 2-0221

Belle Amis²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: C Brace⁽⁷⁾| T: F O'Brien

7/2

Won a Wetherby bumper on debut in 2017 and was third in a Listed bumper next time. Yet to eclipse that over hurdles, but still early days. Acts on soft and needs improvement to win this.

Form: 136-35

Escort'namix⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: G Sheehan| T: W Greatrex

16/1

Irish point winner. Not devoid of promise in a Wetherby bumper last month, and supported prior to falling early on her recent hurdles debut. Tough task here, but not written off with a clear round.

Form: F1-46F

Miss Delighted¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: David England| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero

7/2

Runner-up in an Irish bumper last April and improved for her hurdles debut when third at Huntingdon (2m3f, good) earlier this month. More needed, but can continue to improve.

Form: P/32-052

Non-Runners

Shapiro⁴

Weight: 11-6| Age: 6

T: A J Honeyball J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Viva Vittoria (8/11), Shapiro (3/1), Miss Delighted (7/2), Belle Amis (7/2), Escort'namix (16/1)

VIVA VITTORIA looks the best of these based on what we have seen so far and is taken to defy her penalty and win again. Shapiro could prove to be her biggest danger, judged on the manner of her win last time, but none of the other trip can be written off, with improvement likely from all of them.