15:40 Cheltenham

Saturday 16 December 2017

All12:1012:4513:2013:5514:3015:0515:40

OLBG Mares' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:40 | Winning time: 5m 7.40s

Rons Dream¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: James Bowen⁽⁵⁾| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 139| C

8/1

Second in this back in 2015 and has, at times, looked as good as ever this year. Fair effort in Kempton Listed race (3m½f, good to soft) won by La Bague Au Roi recently and demands respect.

Form: 1805-45

Brillare Momento⁵⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Aidan Coleman| T: M Keighley| OR: 137| CD

8/1

Back from a break when landing Ballymore Novices' Hurdle around here in October, runs off the same mark now against her own sex and should throw down a challenge.

Form: 6U11-21

Graceful Legend^p²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Max Kendrick⁽⁷⁾| T: B I Case| OR: 137

20/1

Won four mares' handicap hurdles last season and better than ever when scoring at Ascot last month (2m5½f, good to soft), answering some stamina questions in doing so. Has 10lb hike to contend with against some re-opposing rivals.

Form: 111-361

Copper Kay³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 134| C

20/1

Successful three times over hurdles last season including over an extended 2m3f at Chepstow (good) in April. Not great over fences on return to action and similar over hurdles since.

Form: 2121-48

Momella²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 134| D

7/2

Irish point-to-point winner who won first two starts over timber for this yard, anything but disgraced last time in Grade 2 company with the boys around here (2½L second of six) and much-respected back in mares' contest now.

Form: 41-112

Deauville Crystal^t²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: Jamie Bargary⁽³⁾| T: N J Hawke| OR: 129

50/1

Raven's Pass filly was 3-7 over timber last season (no match for Brillare Momento here in April) but may have had confidence dented by testing time over fences this term so far. Reverts to this sphere needing career-best to score.

Form: 15-6334

Lamanver Odyssey^t³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: N D Fehily| T: H Fry| OR: 126

15/2

Progressed for this trainer last season before tame effort on final start at Newbury (2m4½f, good to soft) in Grade 2 novice event. Didn't always jump well at Wincanton on return over this sort of trip but still won and could be plenty more to come.

Form: 38120-1

Molly Childers²³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: C Gethings⁽³⁾| T: S Edmunds| OR: 123

14/1

Going the right way in three runs over hurdles so far, scoring in ready fashion at Market Rasen last time when upped to this sort of trip for the first time. Bound to be more to come, albeit this is a much tougher assignment.

Form: 225-331

River Arrow²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: J E Moore| T: T Symonds| OR: 123| D

20/1

Fared best of these in Mares' Final at Newbury in March over this sort of trip and positive reappearance behind Graceful Legend at Ascot last month (beat 8¼L in fifth), can build on that effort.

Form: 2/4P13-5

Elusive Theatre²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: J J Slevin⁽³⁾| T: S R B Crawford| OR: 122

33/1

Maiden hurdle winner at Ayr in February over 2m, hasn't exactly looked progressive since and well held at Navan over longer trip last month when back over hurdles. Others preferred.

Form: 23-1F57

Lady Karina²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: L Treadwell| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 120

7/2

Beat Lamanver Odyssey by a head over this sort of trip at Hereford in January on heavy going and impressive Warwick winner (2m3f, good to soft) 22 days on sole start since. Going the right way and more likely up her sleeve.

Form: 631-1

Oscar Rose³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 118

7/1

Listed bumper winner at Huntingdon this time last year and acquitting herself well in three hurdles starts without winning. Switches to handicaps now and goes up in distance. Market check needed.

Form: 172-242

Daisy De Sivola²¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-5| J: Chester Williams⁽⁷⁾| T: Nick Williams| OR: 118

66/1

Yet to show anything in British runs that suggests she's a winner in waiting here. Returns from an absence and probably best watched for now.

Form: 26527-P

Non-Runners

Sainte Ladylime¹⁰

Weight: 11-3| Age: 6

T: K Bailey & M Nicholls J: David Bass

Forecasts

Momella (7/2), Lady Karina (7/2), Oscar Rose (7/1), Lamanver Odyssey (15/2), Brillare Momento (8/1), Rons Dream (8/1), Molly Childers (14/1), Sainte Ladylime (14/1), River Arrow (20/1), Graceful Legend (20/1), Copper Kay (20/1), Elusive Theatre (33/1), Deauville Crystal (50/1), Daisy De Sivola (66/1)

Lamanver Odyssey was progressive last season before flopping at Newbury on her final start, but she returned with a win at Wincanton despite not always jumping fluently. She's up 7lb now but may improve again. Lady Karina had her measure at Hereford in January (narrowly) and won well at Warwick recently on her sole start since. Venetia Williams' charge likes testing ground and should also be an improver here. MOMELLA however may be answer, having run well here against the boys last time when second behind On The Blind Side. That rival has since scored impressively off a mark of 145, ensuring the form looks strong. With Dan Skelton's team flying (31% previous fortnight), she can make it three from four over timber now back against her own sex.