A team effort between sponsor OLBG, the BHA, TBA, Levy Board and Warwick Racecourse means that a valuable black-type opportunity for National Hunt mares has been saved.

The Grade 2 OLBG Mares’ Hurdle, which should have been run at Doncaster but was abandoned during the cold snap, will feature as the second race on a cracking card at Warwick on Saturday, February 9.

The Paul Webber-trained Alasi heads the list of declared runners but is an unlikely starter following her last-gasp victory over Champion Court in the graduation chase at Kempton on Friday.

Nicky Henderson, who won the inaugural OLBG Mare of the Month Award with dual Listed winner Une Artiste, fields two runners – Kells Belle and Ma Filleule – while Donald McCain, another recipient of an OLBG Mare of the Month Award, has entered Silver Gyspy. The eight-year-old Luso mare ran a good second to Tweedledrum on her last outing at Kempton on 27 December.

Also in the line-up is the French-bred Kauto Shiny, whose dam Kauto Relstar is a half-sister to Kauto Star, and she is joined by last season’s Lanzarote Hurdle winner Swincombe Flame from the Nick Williams stable.