EBF/Thoroughbred Breeders' Association Mares' Novices' Chase

Off time: 13:30 | Winning time: 5m 14.7s

Copper Kay³³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White

7/2

Triple winners over hurdles at up to 2m3½f, including on soft ground. Grade 2 runner-up in that sphere. Could have jumped better on her chase debut at Worcester in October and now makes truncated return. Improvement anticipated and can go well.

Form: 121-486

Happy Diva^t²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: R Patrick⁽⁵⁾| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 128

11/10

Stayed 3m over hurdles and acts on any ground. Has put in three very good efforts in defeat over fences so far, with her latest Listed Newbury run being boosted by the winner last weekend. Should go very close.

Form: 222-322

Midnight Target^h,t²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Lee Edwards| T: J Groucott| OR: 109| C

12/1

Sole success came here over hurdles (2m5f, good) last season. Has made the frame in two out of three chases, with form of his latest run over C&D being boosted by the winner since. Will need to improvement again to trouble the others in this field.

Form: 362-2F2

Shaama Grise²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 132

9/4

Won a Chepstow handicap hurdle (2m3½f, soft) this time last year and has run well in all starts since, the last two over fences. Still room for improvement and it would hardly be a surprise if she were able to go one better today.

Form: 2122-22

Forecasts

Happy Diva (11/10), Shaama Grise (9/4), Copper Kay (7/2), Midnight Target (12/1)

A very trappy contest with three runners not separated by much in terms of what they have shown so far and another who is a potential improver in Midnight Target. The suggestion, however, is HAPPY DIVA, whose latest run has worked out well. Copper Kay and Shaama Grise are both officially rated higher than Kerry Lee's charge going into this, so if either proved good enough it would be no major shock.