George & Dragon Mares' Handicap Hurdle

Returned from break with two below-par hurdle runs in the spring and unseated rider at sixth fence on last month's chasing debut; back hurdling with cheekpieces tried; others have less to prove.

Displayed significant improvement on stable debut at Huntingdon (3m1f, good) in May, where she travelled strongly before asserting to win comfortably; found to have an irregular heartbeat and to have bled from the nose when flopping badly on next outing but steadied the ship with a respectable run last month, and remains open to further progress for new yard.

Came good over hurdles with narrow win at Newton Abbot (2m5f, good) last month and ran big race in defeat here (3m2f, good) a fortnight later; evidently in good nick; likely contender again.

Unexposed 5yo; showed only minor promise in her three qualifying runs but combination of new trip and first-time tongue-tie may enable improvement on this handicap debut.

Made low-key return to racing under rules in June but last month's close second of 16 behind Cinderello in refitted cheekpieces at Uttoxeter (2m7f, good) was a good effort; goes without cheekpieces here but still features prominently in calculations.