Dame Rose proves well worth the wait as she blooms over hurdles

Aintree Grade 2 bumper winner Dame Rose was the class act on the card and delivered in style despite encountering by far the most testing conditions of her career.

Trainer Richard Hobson had been hoping to find a mares only race for the filly's hurdles debut, but quick ground scuppered the plan to get her out earlier in the week and in the end he had little option but to run her against older males.

Sent off at 2-5, she never gave connections a moment's anxiety and came home an easy 12-length winner from Nicky Richards' Tetraites Style, who was the only one who was backed against her.