Giles Bravery is hoping Lady Laureate can confirm her early promise in the Martell XO Anniversary Four-Year-Old Novices' Hurdle on the first day of the Grand National meeting at Aintree.
The four-year-old filly, a consistent performer on the Flat, has had just one run over hurdles this season when she finished an encouraging sixth to Giocomo in the Grade 2 betabet Adonis Juvenile Hurdle at Kempton. After that run Bravery targeted his charge at the JCB Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival but she was one of four horses balloted out of that event at the final stage.
She will be taking on a number of Cheltenham runners at Aintree including Giocomo, who flopped when favourite at the Gloucestershire track, and eventual second Newhall from the stable of Francis Flood.
Bravery reports his horse to be in good order ahead of her run but he is not convinced she will have the class to take the two-mile-and-half-a-furlong race. No less than eight of the 29 runners lined up at the National Hunt Festival and Bravery is hoping that Lady Laureate's break since February will give her the edge over her rivals.
Filed by Laura Reynolds
