weatherbysshop.co.uk EBF Mares' 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:50 | Winning time: 5m 35.76s

La Zoubida⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Sean Quinlan| T: N G Richards| OR: 117| BF| D

8/11

Bumper winner last winter and also successful on her first 2 outings over hurdles. Not up to listed company at Haydock just before Christmas but quickly back on form with her sights lowered when runner-up at Sedgefield (2½m) in January. Should go well again.

Form: 10-1182

Roses All The Way^p1¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 109| D

5/2

Fairly useful in bumpers and made it fourth time lucky over hurdles in 2½m Musselburgh maiden 19 days ago. Has first-time cheekpieces added now. Will probably need a bit more to defy her penalty.

Form: 30-3641

Culzean²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Callum Bewley| T: I A Duncan

100/1

Well held in 2 course bumpers ahead of this switch to hurdles.

Form: 67

Largy Rose⁵²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Ben Smith⁽⁷⁾| T: R M Smith

50/1

Runner-up sole start in Irish points but sent off at 100/1 and offered little on her C&D hurdle debut in January.

Form: 2-P

Society Soldier³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: D R Fox| T: L Russell & M Scudamore

7/2

Third in sole point. Well-held fifth of 10 on 2m Kelso hurdle debut for Nick Alexander in October 2024 but more encouraging signs for new stable when 11 lengths third in 2m course novice 15 months later. Looks sure to be suited by this longer trip.

Form: 3/5-3

Non-Runners

Queens Secret³⁶²

Weight: 11-0| Age: 6

T: Ruth Jefferson J: Craig Nichol

Forecasts

La Zoubida (8/11), Roses All The Way (5/2), Society Soldier (7/2), Queens Secret (13/2), Largy Rose (50/1), Culzean (100/1)

The way SOCIETY SOLDIER stayed on to take third over 2m here 5 weeks ago suggests this longer trip will bring about more improvement and she can make the most of the weight she receives from previous hurdle winners La Zoubida and Roses All The Way.