16:50 Cheltenham

Thursday 16 March 2017

All13:3014:1014:5015:3016:1016:5017:30

Trull House Stud Mares' Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2) (Registered As The Dawn Run)

Off time: 16:52 | Winning time: 4m 1.90s

Airlie Beach¹⁰²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 141

4/1

Virtually faultless so far, extending her unbeaten record to seven races when running out a ready winner of the Grade 1 Royal Bond at Fairyhouse (2m, good to soft) last time out in December. Obvious claims but interesting that Walsh prefers Let's Dance and yard's indifferent form is a slight concern.

Form: 111106

Coillte Lass⁴⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 140

28/1

Point-to-point win indicates stamina and she kicked off with three routine wins in novice hurdles before losing no caste in defeat behind Vroum Vroum Mag in a Grade 2 event at Doncaster (2m, good) last time out, beaten just over 7L. No surprise to see a bold show but possibly vulnerable to speedier types.

Form: P2-111

Forge Meadow¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: R M Power| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 125

12/1

Hadn't looked anything too special in her first four starts (no match for Airlie Beach at Fairyhouse) but the penny really seemed to drop with her in a Grade 2 event at Naas (2m, heavy) when she beat Joey Sasa by 8L with any amount in hand. Questions to answer on quicker ground today but no surprise to see her figure prominently.

Form: 215218

La Bague Au Roi¹¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: G Sheehan| T: W Greatrex| OR: 139

10/1

Smart, three-time bumper winner who has made a seamless transition to hurdling, hacking up a short odds twice before readily winning a Listed event at Newbury (2m, good to soft) in November. Purposely given a break since and has reportedly strengthened in the meantime. Every reason to expect a bold bid.

Form: 7-11176

Let's Dance⁴⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Ruby Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 142

11/8

Fourth in last season's Triumph Hurdle and has gone up a level this term, rattling off four smooth wins with the minimum amount of fuss, culminating in a win against the boys in a 2m4f Grade 2 event at Leopardstown (good). Sets the standard on that form and, as long as she shows her true colours, she will be hard to beat.

Form: 111112

Tahira^p1,t¹¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Harry Skelton| T: R Hobson| OR: 135

100/1

Useful 90-something rated Flat handicapper whose record reads three wins from nine attempts over hurdles so far. Probably produced her best effort when winning a Listed event at Haydock (2m, soft) in November but would need to find another level to upstage a whole host of less exposed types here.

Form: 122164

Dusky Legend⁷⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King| OR: 135

20/1

Bumper winner who has yet to finish out of the first two over hurdles, yet has only scored twice (both times on good ground). Found La Bague Au Roi too hot to handle at Newbury before she was convincingly put in her place by Collite Lass at Taunton and those form lines suggest she is up against it today.

Form: 2/22-112

Asthuria^h1⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 134

14/1

Highly-regarded, she readily landed a maiden hurdle at Fairyhouse (2m4f, good to soft) before twice falling late in races won by Shattered Love at Thurles and Fairyhouse either side of Christmas when holding every chance. Hard to ascertain exactly how good she is but jumping question marks don't bode well in such a hot contest.

Form: 3/1FF51-

Awayinthewest²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: D N Russell| T: P A Fahy| OR: 115

100/1

Struggled to land a blow at long odds in early bumpers but improved to win in that sphere at Fairyhouse in December. Has since reached the frame in three maiden hurdles, just finding herself touched off at Clonmel last time, but looks a long way short of what is required here.

Form: 713426

Barra^t1³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: B J Cooper| T: G Elliott| OR: 130

12/1

Twice a runner-up prior to justifying favouritism in good style at Fairyhouse (2m2f, soft) in January. Found a mixed sex Grade 1 event at Leopardstown (2m2f, soft) a bit too hot to handle last month when going down by 9L to Bacardys but gives the impression 2m on quicker ground will play to her strengths. Not dismissed lightly with yard flying high.

Form: 215236

Groovejet⁸⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: S Bowen| T: R Spencer| OR: 114

100/1

Good enough to contest staying Group races on the Flat but has struggled to make any real impression over hurdles so far. Twice no match for La Bague Au Roi before a dismal effort in a handicap at Wetherby on Boxing Day. No obvious reason to expect her to be competitive.

Form: 33

Montana Belle^t³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: D J Mullins| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 128

100/1

Finished eighth in the Champion Bumper here in 2015 but injuries have blighted her progress since, though she did have enough about her to score at Fairyhouse (2m, soft) in January. Disappointing when upped in class at Punchestown next time and it would be a surprise if she didn't find at least a few too good.

Form: 31428/0-

On Demand^t³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: T J O'Brien| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 124

100/1

Looked a very modest sort early in her career, though a switch to a leading yard has brought two wins at Wincanton (both 2m5f on decent ground) and masses of improvement. By no means disgraced when second to Tara View at Ludlow latest but still looks some way out of her depth in this company as she drops in trip.

Form: 312142

Toe The Line³²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: D F O'Regan| T: J E Kiely| OR: 121

16/1

Boasts Listed wins and a Flat rating over 100 but her only win from five starts over hurdles came in a maiden event (2m, good) at Leopardstown in January. Stepped up on that to finish an excellent second behind Who's That (2m2f, soft) in a handicap last time and, with better ground likely to be in her favour, she could be a live each-way contender at decent odds.

Form: 6/23412

Verdana Blue²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: J McGrath| T: N J Henderson| OR: 136

25/1

Decent bumper form in Ireland and has thrived over hurdles for new yard since unseating early on her debut, winning back-to-back mares novice events at Hereford and Taunton with the minimum amount of fuss. Doesn't appear to have as much scope as some but progressing well and fully entitled to take her chance.

Form: 6-0214U

Titi De Montmartre^p1¹¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: L Philipperon| T: Robert Collet

25/1

French raider who has progressed well, particularly since the application of cheekpieces. Arrives here in search of a hat-trick following back-to-back Grade 3 victories in the mud and it will be fascinating to see how she fares, though this looks a big ask for a four-year-old on the face of it.

Form: 511-954

Forecasts

Let's Dance (11/8), Airlie Beach (4/1), La Bague Au Roi (10/1), Barra (12/1), Forge Meadow (12/1), Asthuria (14/1), Toe The Line (16/1), Dusky Legend (20/1), Verdana Blue (25/1), Titi De Montmartre (25/1), Coillte Lass (28/1), Awayinthewest (100/1), On Demand (100/1), Tahira (100/1), Montana Belle (100/1), Groovejet (100/1)

Willie Mullins landed the inaugural running of this race with Limini last year and he boasts an enviable hand in the shape of the unexposed trio Airlie Beach, Let's Dance and Asthuria. The first two named look particularly exciting but, with the yard not firing as expected this week, it may pay to take them on with LA BAGUE AU ROI. She's charge has been foot-perfect over hurdles so far and has been purposely freshened up by a break, so a big run is anticipated on decent ground which will play her to strengths. If there is any each-way value it could lie with smart Flat performer Toe The Line who is improving with each run over timber.