SIÓG Geal has been solid in the market all week for this afternoon’s Grade 2 BetVictor British EBF Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at Newbury, and she strengthened further yesterday, so that she is now clear favourite in front of Jasmine Bliss.

The case for Fergal O’Brien’s mare is solid too. Second to Paddy Twomey’s mare Seo Linn in the listed mares’ bumper at Cheltenham’s November meeting, a race in which her stable companion Strong Run finished just behind her in third, and won a bumper at Warwick next time, she finished a close-up fourth behind Jubilee Alpha and Bluey at Windsor in January on soft ground, and then chased Bluey home again on better ground at Market Rasen next time.