Close Brothers Asset Finance Mares' Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 13:30 | Winning time: 4m 42.3s

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Selected odds by:

Jazz Thyme¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: C Gethings⁽³⁾| T: R Stephens| OR: 95

5/2

Has her 11th attempt at breaking her duck over hurdles but, even at the age of eight, she seems to be improving and produced an encouraging run to finish a close second at Stratford on her first outing since last October. One of the leading contenders.

Form: 50354-2

Jonjoela⁸²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: W Featherstone⁽⁵⁾| T: Tracey Leeson

50/1

Showed little in two bumpers, but has performed much better in the point-to-point field and, after winning a race at Northaw in May, she followed up at Whitfield only to be disqualified. Makes her hurdles debut for a new trainer and is worth a check in the market.

Form: 4442-1D

Pat's Pearl^p1,t¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: R Johnson| T: J C McConnell| OR: 100

8/15

Irish raider who has finished runner-up on her last four starts, three of them in handicaps. Wears cheekpieces for the first time and has the champion jockey on board so clearly of interest.

Form: 50-2222

Persistantprincess⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: S Bowen| T: D A Rees

28/1

Runner-up in an Irish point-to-point, but pulled up on her hurdling debut in a better race than this at Ffos Las in June. Early days for her and it will be a surprise if one or two of her rivals are not more streetwise.

Form: P-2P

Sturdy Dawn^h⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Lewis Stones⁽⁷⁾| T: M Mullineaux| OR: 64

200/1

Unplaced in eight starts under Rules, four of them over hurdles. Had a warm-up for this on the Flat six days ago, but nothing in her form suggests she will be up to winning.

Form: 695549/

Tara's Rainbow^t²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Josh Wall⁽⁵⁾| T: T Wall| OR: 96

14/1

Has run creditably on more than one occasion since joining current yard from Kim Bailey, including when second to an odds-on rival (who finished lame) at Stratford last time. By no means out of this if able to shrug off a disappointing run at Uttoxeter last time.

Form: 45-3425

Astrosecret¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: T J O'Brien| T: M H Tompkins

33/1

A 10-race maiden on the Flat, she now tries her luck at hurdling. Stable can prepare a horse in this sphere and jockey booking offers encouragement. The betting will probably be the best guide to her chances.

Form:

Forecasts

Pat's Pearl (8/15), Jazz Thyme (5/2), Tara's Rainbow (14/1), Persistantprincess (28/1), Astrosecret (33/1), Jonjoela (50/1), Sturdy Dawn (200/1)

Not the strongest of mares' maiden hurdles. Jazz Thyme ran well after a break last time and normal improvement should see her get involved, while Tara's Rainbow could make her presence felt if reproducing her running of a couple of starts ago. Astrosecret and Jonjoela are worth considering on their hurdling debuts, but PAT'S PEARL has been running with credit at a fair level over timber and has plenty going for her. The fitting of cheekpieces could be the final piece in the jigsaw.