bet365 Mares' Hurdle (Listed)

Off time: 14:10 | Winning time: 4m 2.7s

Desaray Girl²³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Joe Colliver| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 133

50/1

Rattled off hat-trick on her first 3 outings over hurdles last term, notably springing a surprise in a listed novice hurdle at Haydock. Disappointed upped in class to end campaign and has moved yards.

Form: 011149-

Midnights' Gift¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Adrian Heskin| T: A King| OR: 130| D

15/2

Well beaten in the Dawn Run at the Cheltenham Festival in March. Solid-enough efforts in handicap company of late but others have achieved more and look open to further progress.

Form: 1240-24

Mrs Hyde¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: D A Jacob| T: B Ellison| OR: 133| D

6/1

Bumper winner for Fergal O'Brien. Has won 3 of her 4 starts for this yard over hurdles, most recently in listed company at Kempton. May still have more to offer but has plenty to find on bare form.

Form: 0/6-1131

Born In Borris²²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: H Cobden| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 128

40/1

Point winner who got her career under Rules off to the perfect start when successful at Wincanton in March. Shaped well under a penalty at Chepstow recently and can do better, but this is a big ask.

Form: 511-3

Rosie And Millie²³³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Brendan Powell| T: M Scudamore| OR: 132| DWS

11/1

Improver on the back of wind op, winning maiden at Ayr with loads in hand in November. Good neck second to Desaray Girl in Haydock listed event next time but shaped as though amiss in the Dawn Run.

Form: 2P/2120-

Verdana Blue¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: J McGrath| T: N J Henderson| OR: 155| BF| D

5/6

Smart hurdler who enjoyed a tremendous campaign in 2018/19, winning 4 times, notably the Grade 1 Christmas Hurdle at Kempton. Shade disappointing at that venue recently but sets the clear standard.

Form: 4151/4-2

Whitehotchillifili²³³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: S Bowen| T: H Fry| OR: 131| D

9/2

Bumper winner who made encouraging start over hurdles last term, winning novices at Wincanton and Exeter. Set a stiff task in the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at the Festival but ran with credit in sixth.

Form: 9/31316-

Forecasts

Verdana Blue (5/6), Whitehotchillifili (9/2), Mrs Hyde (6/1), Midnights' Gift (15/2), Rosie And Millie (11/1), Born In Borris (40/1), Desaray Girl (50/1)

VERDANA BLUE suffered a disappointing reversal at Kempton last time and deteriorating ground would ask a question of her, but she's very much favoured by the weights here and if she's near her peak form, she'll win this. Whitehotchillifili is open to progress this term and is offered for forecast purposes.