Sky Sports Racing Mares' Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 14:01 | Winning time: 5m 10.2s

Desaray Girl³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 12-2| J: Danny McMenamin⁽⁵⁾| T: P A Kirby| OR: 133| D

1/8

Cheltenham Festival Grade 1 entry; has competently won her last two starts though latest effort in decent contest at Haydock was clearly the better performance; expected to make light work of her rivals here if she has Cheltenham illusions.

Form: 30-011

April Rising¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: S A Harris| OR: 102

66/1

Has been well beaten and unfancied on all her starts over hurdles; slight glimmer of hope came last time out at Market Rasen but still looks an unlikely winner.

Form: 9P6

Baby Jane¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Ross Chapman| T: G Boanas

50/1

Well beaten on all her four starts so far and latest effort was her worst by far when tailed off at Catterick earlier this month.

Form: 5678

Kitty's Cove¹²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: T D Easterby

11/1

Rated 52 on the Flat at her best and managed to get her head in front on one occasion (Class 6 handicap); related to some hurdle winners and likely to do better in time and when upped in distance; tough ask on debut.

Form:

Leeswood Lily³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish

8/1

Showed ability on both her early bumper starts in 2016/17 hitting the frame in her first two starts before having some success in point-to-points in Ireland; placed on latest bumper appearance here in December; hard to see her being good enough.

Form: F/63-613

Shallow Run¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Henry Brooke| T: D McCain Jnr

33/1

Ready winner of a November soft-ground 3m Lisronagh point for C.W.J Farrell; 1-7 overall in that sphere; has since joined Donald McCain; finished 10 of 11 on UK bumper debut at Ludlow earlier this month.

Form: 23-5140

Shocona's Joy⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Philip Armson⁽⁷⁾| T: D McCain Jnr

16/1

Little evidence of talent from two outings over hurdles to date; obviously open to improvement but still looks an unlikely winner.

Form: 42/3-04

Forecasts

Desaray Girl (1/8), Leeswood Lily (8/1), Kitty's Cove (11/1), Shocona's Joy (16/1), Shallow Run (33/1), Baby Jane (50/1), April Rising (66/1)

It is near impossible to get away from Cheltenham OLBG Mares' Hurdle entry DESARAY GIRL who has won her last two starts and despite giving weight away all round should have the beating of her rivals, none of whom look particularly capable. The only chink in her amour may be if the ground becomes any faster than the forecast soft as both her wins have come on heavy ground. Still, very hard to see her being beat at very skinny odds. Leeswood Lily may prove the best of the rest given her experience in bumpers and point-to-point contests while newcomer Kitty's Cove was a dour stayer on the Flat and may prove a decent hurdler in time.