Happy Birthday Lynda Todd Mares' Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:50 | Winning time: 3m 50.1s

Au Jus²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Harry Bannister| T: M & D Easterby

25/1

Half-sister to bumper winner/fairly useful hurdler Steel City and bumper winner/fair hurdler Miss Sassypants, stayed 2½m. Unable to land a blow in a bumper last month.

Form: 9

Beautiful Mix²¹²⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 10-12| J: Sam Coltherd| T: N Mechie

150/1

Exceeded expectations when second of 9 in a bumper, though that was way back in 2016.

Form: 2/

Betty Baloo³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: T D Easterby| OR: 105| BF| D

9/4

Dual bumper winner who has hit the frame on each of her 4 hurdling starts, though expensive to follow with it. Likely to be thereabouts again.

Form: 124223

Billams Legacy²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 105| D

9/2

Fairly useful bumper winner who stepped forward from her hurdling debut when 12¾ lengths third to Corey's Courage at Bangor in January. Too free at Uttoxeter latest and tongue tie now off.

Form: 120-435

Heaventree⁶⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Craig Nichol| T: Ewan Whillans

300/1

Limited impact in a brace of bumpers during the winter.

Form: 07

Sweet Auburn¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr

9/4

Winning Irish pointer in October and was a smooth scorer on Rules debut at Sedgefield. Unable to defy a penalty twice since but starts out over hurdles at a very realistic level.

Form: F1133

Bonne Vitesse³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: Emma Smith-Chaston⁽⁵⁾| T: Micky Hammond| D

11/4

Surpassed Flat form at the first attempt over hurdles when springing a bit of a surprise at Wetherby in January. Runner-up has won since but she was a shade disappointing at Carlisle.

Form: 15

Forecasts

Betty Baloo (9/4), Sweet Auburn (9/4), Bonne Vitesse (11/4), Billams Legacy (9/2), Au Jus (25/1), Beautiful Mix (150/1), Heaventree (300/1)

Point/bumper-winner SWEET AUBURN starts her hurdling career in an ordinary-looking race and, representing a good yard, she looks the way to go. Betty Baloo has been expensive to follow over hurdles but she can get involved, along with Billams Legacy.