Unusually for a French import handled by her trainer, this is a mare who has won just once in ten starts, though she has been placed in five out of six runs since. However, she looked like scoring easily at Wincanton last time when coming down three out and if that has not left any mental scarring then she should go very well again.
Sole success came in a Huntingdon bumper this time last year (good to soft) but has gone well enough over hurdles this winter and now switches to chasing. Forecast conditions are no problem, although she does still have a little to prove over this far.
Consistent handicap hurdler in her own grade, though she will need to improve considerably on her ability in that sphere to make an impression now switching to fences. Stays well.
Soft ground and this sort of trip suited over hurdles and she ran a nice race over shorter on her only completed chase start from two, which came at Exeter last time. Looks sure to appreciate the longer distance again today and likely to be a leading player.
Point-to-point winner (good) in October but failed to complete on sole hurdling start in December and probably a watching brief is best advised on her chase debut.
Forecasts
Antartica De Thaix (1/1), Sainte Ladylime (5/4), Lochnell (10/1), Beyond Measure (16/1), Spring Pools (125/1)
This looks like a two-horse race between Antartica De Thaix and SAINTE LADYLIME with the latter narrowly preferred. Kim Bailey's mare should relish this return to 2m 4f and showed plenty of promise over what was probably too short last time. Her chief rival has has several chances and is likely to give her running again, though she is clearly vulnerable for all she was 30 lengths clear when tipping up last time. Beyond Measure may be the one to follow them home.
1. Sainte Ladylime
2. Antartica De Thaix
3. Beyond Measure