Saturday's big-race runners and riders: final fields for Kelso's £100,000 Go North mares' hurdle and Newbury's Grade 2

Northern Air heads the market for the Ladbrokes Herring Queen Series Final Mares' Novices' Handicap Hurdle (3.00) at Kelso on Saturday after hot favourite Armed And Fabulous was not among the 12 declarations.

The Fergal O'Brien-trained six-year-old is a best-priced 6-1 for the £100,000 contest, which is the feature race on day two of Ladbrokes Go North finals weekend, supported by the Racing Post.

The trainer also saddles outsider Leloopa, while Surrey Belle and Rula Bula will shoulder top weight with a shared rating of 121. 

The Listed Ladbrokes 'Big-Value You Can Bet On' Mares' Hurdle (1.50) will feature a field of six runners headed by the Henry Daly-trained Wyenot, who returns to Kelso for the first time since winning a mares' novice hurdle at the track in November 2023. 

Since that success she has gone on to score at Cheltenham's Showcase meeting and at Listed level at Doncaster in December, and is rated 9lb superior to her five rivals that includes course winner Gale Mahler.

Jasmine seeks hat-trick for Derham

Progressive mare Jasmine Bliss will aim to rattle off a hat-trick in style on Saturday as she heads the market for Newbury's Grade 2 BetVictor British EBF BetVictor 'National Hunt' Mares' Novices' Hurdle (3.15).

The promising Harry Derham-trained six-year-old seeks to follow up wins at Ludlow and Southwell in Newbury's £55,000 handicap and will face 15 rivals. 

Harry Derham: trainer of Grade 2 favourite Jasmine BlissCredit: Alan Crowhurst

The Evan Williams-trained Followango was the only entry absent from declarations on Saturday's sole Graded race of the day, with Siog Geal close behind Jasmine Bliss in the betting for Fergal O'Brien. 

The trainer will also be represented in the valuable Goffs Hundred Grand Bumper (4.25), for which he saddles Tiddesley Wood against 11 rivals. 

Won last year by Regent's Stroll, the 2m½f contest will again have representation from the Paul Nicholls' yard in Talk To The Man, who will be partnered by Harry Cobden.

Ladbrokes Herring Queen Series Final runners and riders

Surrey Belle Brian Hughes
Rula Bula Benjamin Macey
Tour Ovalie Isabel Williams
Walkadina Jack Tudor
Game Colours Tom Bellamy 
Assorda Emma Smith-Chaston
Sunset Hill Nathan Moscrop
Green Sky TBC 
Northern Air Liam Harrison
Leloopa Tom Broughton 
Barrabool Alice Stevens 
Lizzie Luna Craig Nichol ​​ 

Grade 2 Mares' Novices' Hurdle runners and riders

Jasmine Bliss Paul O'Brien 
Rockstown Girl Oakley Brown 
Scarlet O'Tara Luke Scott
La Pinsonniere Nico de Boinville 
Sunset Marquesa Brendan Powell 
Soig Geal Jonathan Burke I
Jakana Fern O'Brien 
Crazierthandaisy James Bowen
Betty's Tiara Ben Jones
Come On Nina Jay Tidball 
I Am The Moon Sam Twiston-Davies 
Of Course You Can Richie McLernon 
Pismo Beach Charlie Hammond
Clotilda Harry Cobden
Either Way Adam Wedge 
The Secret Pearl Harry Bannister

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'The racing is competitive and compelling' - northern tracks primed for Ladbrokes Go North finals weekend  

Horses to note across the £544,000 Go North weekend - including a chaser who finished second to Jagwar this season 

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