Weatherbys nhstallions.co.uk Mares' Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:50 | Winning time: 5m 30.5s

Lutinebella⁸¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Jack Hogan⁽⁵⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 123

4/9

Fairly useful form in bumpers and quickened clear in good style when opening hurdles account at the second attempt at Exeter (18.5f) in November. Shade disappointing in a Taunton mares' listed event next time but sets the standard back in calmer waters here.

Form: 213-314

Marmalaid³⁰⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson

4/1

From the family of Katchit and duly left her hurdles debut form behind when winning a 4-runner Ffos Las novice upped to this trip last spring. That wasn't much of a race and 10-month absence to overcome but she's open to progress for her leading yard.

Form: 5/8-1

Fortuitous Favour¹²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Ben Godfrey⁽³⁾| T: A J Honeyball

4/1

Narrow winner of a 12.4f Wetherby bumper on debut in December 2021 but out with the washing in a listed contest on return at Cheltenham in November. Not seen since and stamina has to be taken on trust upped in trip for this hurdling bow.

Form: 1-0

Lewesian Lass²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: J & S Best

50/1

Little to shout about in a trio of bumpers and hard to warm to now switched to hurdles.

Form: 745

Den The Diva²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-2| J: James Davies| T: A Irvine

200/1

Little impact in Wincanton mares' bumper/2m Lingfield mares' novice last month.

Form: 07

Forecasts

Lutinebella (4/9), Marmalaid (4/1), Fortuitous Favour (4/1), Lewesian Lass (50/1), Den The Diva (200/1)

This is likely to boil down to a straight fight between MARMALAID and Lutinebella, unless bumper winner Fortuitous Favour improves markedly for the switch to hurdles following a break. On all known form, Lutinebella should be winning this but Marmalaid is something of an unknown quantity for the Nicky Henderson yard and, at the probable prices, she is the more appealing betting proposition.