Charles Hedley Country Clothing Mares' 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 12:10 | Winning time: 3m 57.2s

Gaia Du Gouet²²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Harry Skelton| T: D SkeltonWS

8/11

£85,000 half-sister to fairly useful chaser Virtuose du Gouet. Dam, placed over fences, half-sister to useful chaser Mendiant. Won sole start in Irish points and had a wind op having joined top yard.

Form: 1-

Ma Belle Noire²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Lorcan Murtagh⁽³⁾| T: H Fry

5/2

Sent off favourite and denied a clear run when third of 10 in a bumper at Southwell in May. Had a wind op after and better form when fourth in big-field contest at Aintree. Now goes hurdling. Player.

Form: 34

Miss West²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams

80/1

Bumper run last month wasn't devoid of promise but well held switched to hurdling, including at Chepstow on Friday.

Form: 506

Walk In Clover²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Luke Scott⁽⁷⁾| T: T H Weston

28/1

Runner-up on final point start and shaped like a stayer when eighth in a deep bumper at Aintree last month. Bred to do well over obstacles but lack the pace of a couple of these.

Form: 5U2-8

Walk In My Shoes³⁸⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: R P McLernon| T: J & A O'Neill

15/2

€18,000 3-y-o, Milan mare. Half-sister to fairly useful hurdler Farne. Dam unraced half-sister to fairly useful hurdler/useful chaser Ruben Cotter. Runner-up sole start in Irish points (Oct 2020).

Form: 2-

Way Past Midnight¹⁹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: P R Webber| D

12/1

Off the track over 2 years after her point win and shaped like a stayer in a Bangor bumper in May. Kept to 2m now hurdling but she's of interest.

Form: 1/4

Forecasts

Gaia Du Gouet (8/11), Ma Belle Noire (5/2), Walk In My Shoes (15/2), Way Past Midnight (12/1), Walk In Clover (28/1), Miss West (80/1)

MA BELLE NOIRE showed plenty to work on when fourth in a deep bumper at Aintree a month ago and she's up to making a winning debut in this sphere. Gaia du Gouet, Walk In My Shoes and Way Past Midnight are all bred to stay well but still command respect.