3:42 Coolmore N.H. Sires

Bolshoi Ballet Irish EBF Mares Champion Hurdle (Grade 1)

2m 4f 118yds

Ashroe Diamond: Her final race as she is scanned in-foal. Pulled up behind Lossiemouth at Cheltenham when she reportedly ran flat and too freely in a hood, which she wears again, and faded from two out. Won the Grade 1 mares’ novice at Punchestown last year and had returned to win nicely in a Doncaster Grade 2 in January.

Gala Marceau: The only horse to beat Lossiemouth when taking advantage of trouble in running at the Dublin Racing Festival last season.

Her overall juvenile campaign was top class, culminating in winning the top juvenile Grade 1 the Prix Alain du Breil by seven lights in France in May. In three outings this season she has not recovered that form.

Beaten into third at odds-on in January at Doncaster by Ashroe Diamond and again when third of four 18 lengths behind Hispanic Moon in a Grade 3 at Punchestown. She has over 28 lengths to make up on Lossiemouth from Cheltenham and has a lot of prove.

Hispanic Moon: Won a four-runner Grade 3 mares’ contest comfortably at Punchestown before third behind Lossiemouth at Cheltenham.

Still looks held by the two in front of her that time.

Lossiemouth: The impressive winner of her two outings this season including the Cheltenham Mares’ Grade 1 where she shrugged off any stamina doubts coming home three lengths clear of Telmesomethinggirl. She arguably should be unbeaten over hurdles and holds all the aces here.

Telmesomethinggirl: No match for Lossiemouth at Cheltenham but a very creditable second there when she was over-priced at 22/1. Difficult to see her reversing that form.

Verdict:

A classy bunch of mares but it is impossible to oppose Lossiemouth. She won here off a sterner campaign as a juvenile last season and her two Cheltenham wins are better than anything the others look capable of producing. Telmesomethinggirl is the logical one to chase her home but Ashroe Diamond at bigger odds could occupy that spot if she races more amenably this time.