pricedup.bet Mares' Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:49 | Winning time: 3m 38.29s

Adaay Dancing⁴³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: R T Dunne| T: W S Kittow

40/1

Down the field both outings in bumpers and raced too freely when making little impact in 2 starts over hurdles in the spring. Modest form in maidens/handicaps on the Flat since and looks to be up against it as she returns to hurdling.

Form: 9760-

Border Gem²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Rex Dingle| T: J Scott

5/1

Runner-up at Newton Abbot on final start in bumpers last season and stepped forward from her hurdling debut when fourth of 8 in novice at the same course (21.6f, soft) 22 days ago, form boosted by the second since. Will need to find more again.

Form: 542-54

Cinq Douzaine¹⁹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Tabitha Worsley⁽³⁾| T: C J Down

125/1

Offered little in a Flat maiden in October 2022 and, after a lengthy absence, fared no better on stable/hurdling debut at Chepstow in April. Again well held in novice at Newton Abbot the following month and has been off since.

Form: 4-6

Innisfree Pearl¹⁴⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King

9/1

Closely related to fair hurdler Chaparral Prince (2m-2½m winner), and half-sister to fairly useful hurdler Mastermind (2m winner), stays 3m. Winner at 11.9f on Flat for Tom Ward but no better than mid-division in 3 starts this year. However, she's interesting on stable/hurdling debut.

Form:

Jetty May¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Liam Harrison| T: P F Nicholls

20/1

Runner-up in an Irish point but well held in bumper for Fergal O'Brien in March. Some encouragement in a Worcester novice (16f) on stable/hurdling debut last month, though well beaten at Ludlow (21.2f, good to soft) 2 weeks ago. May just need more time.

Form: 28-45

Miss Tiara^t³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Lorcan Williams| T: J Scott

9/1

Not much promise in a bumper and first start over hurdles early this year, but after 7 months off (in first-time tongue strap) showed a lot more when second of 5 in maiden at Exeter (21.6f, good) in October, clear of rest. Could be in the mix.

Form: 9P-2

St Irene¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: J M Quinlan| T: Nick Scholfield

4/9

Easy winner of a Southwell bumper on debut and similar form when third in listed event at Huntingdon. After 7 months off ahead of first run since leaving B. F. Brookhouse, shaped promisingly when second in a Newbury novice on hurdles bow 2 weeks ago. The one to beat.

Form: 1630-2

Forecasts

St Irene (4/9), Border Gem (5/1), Innisfree Pearl (9/1), Miss Tiara (9/1), Jetty May (20/1), Adaay Dancing (40/1), Cinq Douzaine (125/1)

An impressive bumper winner on debut, ST IRENE made a promising start over hurdles when pushing the favourite hard at Newbury 2 weeks ago and she looks to hold leading claims with improvement to come. The main danger could be Miss Tiara, who left her previous form behind when runner-up at Exeter on return, ahead of hurdling-debutante Innisfree Pearl.