2.10 Unibet Morgiana Hurdle

(Grade 1) 2m 160yd

Glen Kiln: Has been mightily progressive in the last year. Won off a mark of 116 last December and now up to 143. Has a lot of work to do to trouble the rest if they run to their ratings, though.

Irancy: Always held in high regard and bounced back from a 33-length defeat in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle to win in Grade 1 company at the Punchestown Festival when last seen.

That race possibly fell apart to a certain extent, with Kopek Des Bordes failing to fire and Salvator Mundi likely doing too much too early, but this seven-year-old is still a blank canvas at this level.

Ndaawi: County Hurdle second went one better in the Galway Hurdle (promoted to first after suffering interference in the closing stages).

That win came off 145 and now up to 154, so still has improving to do to trouble an on-song Lossiemouth. Beaten on the flat twice since Ballybrit.

Lossiemouth: Seven-time Grade 1 winner sets a clear standard here.

It would be a shock if she can’t pick up from where she left off last season, winning the Mares’ Hurdle and Aintree Hurdle on her latest appearances.

Conclusion

With a clear round, it’s difficult to look beyond Lossiemouth. She could be short of her best in terms of readiness, given she’s deputising for the injured State Man and might have been trained for the Hatton’s Grace otherwise. Still, she’s the only one of these to have won in open Grade 1 company and a report from Paul Townend this week seemed upbeat about her wellbeing. Ndaawi will need to improve to beat Irancy on ratings but his race sharpness from a summer campaign might allow him to do so.