Virgin Bet Mares' Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:02 | Winning time: 4m 13.04s

Annie Hathaway⁸¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Philip Armson⁽³⁾| T: A King

4/6

Failed to progress from promising start in bumpers but encouraging she shaped much better than on return/hurdles debut when third in mares' novice at Huntingdon (15.8f) back in December. That was a fair effort and she holds excellent claims in a weak race.

Form: 290-P3

I C U In My Dreams⁴⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr

13/8

£80,000 Jukebox Jury mare. Irish point winner who has shown fair form when placed in a pair of bumpers here and at Newcastle either side of Christmas. An interesting hurdling debutante.

Form: 7-124

Nicely Curved^h,t¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: J M Quinlan| T: Hayley Burton

66/1

Modest maiden on Flat (stays 1m), well held in minor event at Lingfield last time. Unlikely type now hurdling.

Form:

Rose Light^h¹⁹²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Ian Power| T: J Candlish

12/1

Modest handicapper on Flat (stays 1½m) for Tony Forbes, well below form final start in 2025. Debuts over hurdles for yard in good form and market can likely prove a useful guide.

Form:

Melosa^p,t⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-6| J: Peter Kavanagh| T: M E Sowersby

300/1

Fair maiden on Flat but offered nothing in trio of hurdle starts since the turn of the year.

Form: UP8

Prettylady^t³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-6| J: Toby Wynne| T: O Greenall & J GuerrieroWS

16/1

Fair maiden on Flat in France (stays 9.5f) but offered little both starts in juvenile hurdles for new yard so far this year. Had breathing operation since last run and she's a likely type for low-grade handicaps further down the line.

Form: 67

Forecasts

Annie Hathaway (4/6), I C U In My Dreams (13/8), Rose Light (12/1), Prettylady (16/1), Nicely Curved (66/1), Melosa (300/1)

ANNIE HATHAWAY shaped much better than she had first time over hurdles when third at Huntingdon in December and in the hope she can use that as a platform to build on, she looks to hold excellent claims. Hurdles newcomer I C U In My Dreams may well emerge as the chief danger.