Racing Post Mares Hurdle

Off time: 16:40 | Winning time: 3m 57.30s

Carrie Des Champs³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| D

7/2

Triple bumper winner is now 2-3 over hurdles with win at Tipperary (2m) and Southwell (2m4f) either side of close second at Perth. Drops in distance and meeting better opposition but a clear contender.

Form: 113-121

Havingagoodtime⁴²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-3| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 131| D

4/1

Improving, solid and consistent 131-rated hurdler with three wins in six starts over timber including Grade 3 Juvenile at Cheltenham in April. Didn't appear to see out 2m4f last month at Killarney but leading claims on prior form.

Form: 6141-13

Caer⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade| D

9/10

Put a Galway (2m5f, good) fall behind her when winning by 6L over an extended 2m1f at Sligo (good) recently in maiden company. Going the right way and should be able to mount a challenge.

Form: 421F1

Effernock Fizz⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: A W Short⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss K Brown| OR: 112

8/1

Winner of maiden/novice hurdles at Tipperary and Wexford (both 2m) earlier in the summer, has maintained form nicely on the Flat since but does face a tougher question back in this sphere.

Form: 558-115

Natures Blossom⁵²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Sean O'Keeffe⁽⁷⁾| T: T G McCourt

100/1

Thrice-raced in Flat maiden and yet to go off shorter than 66-1. Not an obvious contender making this switch to hurdling.

Form:

Maricruz^t²²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-4| J: Darragh O'Keeffe⁽⁵⁾| T: J C McConnell| C

16/1

Three Flat wins from 13, latest earned last month at Navan (1m2f, good to firm) off a mark of 73. Could have a future over timber and certainly worth paying attention in betting on jumps bow.

Form:

Forecasts

Caer (9/10), Carrie Des Champs (7/2), Havingagoodtime (4/1), Effernock Fizz (8/1), Maricruz (16/1), Natures Blossom (100/1)

Havingagoodtime would be the logical choice here on the strength of a graded success around Aintree in the spring but she needs to banish the memories of a poor run at Killarney most recently and is therefore opposed with Gordon Elliott's CARRIE DES CHAMPS. She's got the winning habit and while this is tougher than her novice hurdle win at Southwell, she looks capable of better still. Caer is also improving and is on the shortlist after a decisive win at Sligo.