Happy Birthday Rebecca Mares' Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:10 | Winning time: 4m 59.90s

La Zoubida³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Sean Quinlan| T: N G Richards| OR: 117| CD

4/6

Bumper winner last winter. Made a successful start over hurdles in C&D maiden in November and followed up under a penalty at Kelso in December. Ran poorly in Haydock listed race since but can do better back in calmer waters.

Form: 210-118

Laffer Curve³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Tristan Durrell| T: D Skelton

5/1

Made a sound start to her hurdle career when staying on to finish 8½ lengths fourth in mares' maiden over 2½m at Wetherby on Boxing Day but the reopposing Rosie Baloo was 4¼ lengths ahead in second. In the right hands to progress.

Form: 4-54

Rosa Diaz^t³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Craig Nichol| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero

11/1

£32,000 purchase after winning an Irish point winner in November 2024. Fitted with a hood and tongue tie, showed a fair level of ability when fifth of 12 in 21f Ludlow novice hurdle just over a year later. May do better.

Form: 1-5

Rosie Baloo³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: T D Easterby| OR: 103

11/4

Made a successful start to her career in a bumper last summer and placed on all 3 outings over hurdles, best effort when second (Laffer Curve fourth) of 14 in Wetherby maiden on Boxing Day. Leading claims with further improvement likely.

Form: 1332

Melosa^t²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-2| J: Aaron Anderson⁽⁵⁾| T: M E Sowersby

250/1

Fair form on Flat at best but an inauspicious start to her hurdle career at Doncaster just after Christmas, jumping left at the first and unseating at the second.

Form: U

Forecasts

La Zoubida (4/6), Rosie Baloo (11/4), Laffer Curve (5/1), Rosa Diaz (11/1), Melosa (250/1)

ROSIE BALOO can confirm Boxing Day Wetherby superiority over Laffer Curve and make it fourth time lucky over hurdles. La Zoubida, who carries a double penalty, and Rosa Diaz are also quite closely matched on form with the aforementioned pair.