Sky Sports Racing Virgin 535 Mares' Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 19:40 | Winning time: 5m 14.50s

Carrie Des Champs⁴⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: R Johnson| T: G Elliott| BF

1/4

Three-time bumper winner who made a successful hurdles debut after a seven-month break at Tipperary (2m). Up in trip her jumping let her down when a short-priced Perth favourite; this looks easier, step up to 2m4f should suit, sets the standard.

Form: 1113-12

Connemara Lass¹⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: James Davies| T: Mrs N S Evans

200/1

Only managed to complete once in three Irish point-to-points and now makes her Rules debut. Hard to give her any chance on what she's shown so far.

Form: P7P-

Go To Court⁹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Henry Brooke| T: Micky HammondWS

12/1

Took an Irish point-to-point on her fourth start in that sphere before being bought for £18,000. Well held on both her starts under Rules over hurdles; regressed from her debut last time, now had wind surgery, has to improve.

Form: 92P136-

The Distant Lady²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Kielan Woods| T: D Killahena & G McPherson| C

4/1

Second on her only completed start in Irish point-to-points but looks well bought at £6,500 prior to winning a mares' bumper here in June causing a mild surprise. Bred to have ability and stamina; worth a second glance on her hurdles debut.

Form: P2F-1

Winter Holiday²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Page Fuller⁽³⁾| T: Jamie Snowden

22/1

Runner-up in a brace of Fontwell 2m1f bumpers separated by a nine-month break; looks weak form. Well held in a deeper contest at Worcester last time out now makes her hurdles debut with plenty to find on what she has achieved so far.

Form: 5/2-27

Lexi¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: J M Quinlan| T: Miss A Murphy

33/1

Ran a distant third of four on her novice hurdle debut at Market Rasen earlier this month looking in need of the run in terms of fitness and experience. Should show a little more here with that run tucked away but still faces a stiff task.

Form: 3

Forecasts

Carrie Des Champs (1/4), The Distant Lady (4/1), Go To Court (12/1), Winter Holiday (22/1), Lexi (33/1), Connemara Lass (200/1)

The second short-priced Gordon Elliott trained horse in the card Carrie Des Champs has shown that she has ability but will have to jump better than she did at Perth and these brush hurdles take a little jumping. She’ll be hard to beat but THE DISTANT LADY looks nicely bought at £6,500 having won well on her bumper debut here and she might just be able to pull another surprise out of the bag on her hurdles debut. All of the others have plenty to find with Winter Holiday and Go To Court who may improve for some recent wind surgery expected to battle it out for the minor place.