16:30 Navan

Sunday 17 February 2019

All13:5014:2014:5515:2516:0016:3017:00

Ladbrokes Bet On The Cheltenham Festival Mares Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:35 | Winning time: 5m 11.8s

Water Sprite²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Robbie Colgan| T: M Torrens| OR: 116

25/1

Will have disappointed connections since landing a Limerick handicap hurdle in October with a number of heavy defeats since including when beaten over 18L at Gowran Park last month. Others preferred for win purposes.

Form: 816008

Stucker Hill³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Danny Mullins| T: W J Lanigan| OR: 111| BF

5/1

Failed to land a hat-trick of wins when falling four out, looking a moderate fourth in a 10-runner Mares' handicap at Punchestown over a similar trip last month. Needs to bounce back here.

Form: 2-0711F

Bridge Native^t⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Mark Walsh| T: Mrs D A Love| OR: 108

12/1

Well held at Naas last month finishing 16th of 19 on good ground over 2m. Second of 16 beaten ¾L in a Mares handicap hurdle in November and a repeat of that form should see her in the hunt for more place money.

Form: 5/07220

Isabel's Gold⁴⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Brian Hayes| T: J Queally| OR: 108

11/1

Won her maiden hurdle at Tramore in August but form has been a little hit and miss since including a 26L defeat at the same track last month. Needs to find the form that saw her finish second of four in a mares contest in December.

Form: 102426

Song Of The Sky^t¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: J J Slevin| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 107| C

11/1

Modest 66-rated handicapper on the Flat and without a win in four hurdle starts to date. Needs to improve on even her best form to play a role here with a step up in trip possibly the key.

Form: 36857

Alohamora⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Paul Townend| T: J Nash| OR: 106

16/1

Winner of a Catterick fillies juvenile hurdle 12 months ago but well held in four starts over timber since December. Needs to show significant improvement in this company.

Form: 43-4806

Gliondar Mo Chroi^t³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: M A Enright| T: A Fogarty| OR: 101| D

7/2

Gutsy winner of a Punchestown novice maiden hurdle over this trip last month getting the better of British Art in a head bobber. Form is solid and is entitled to make the shortlist.

Form: 261031

Smiling Eliza^p¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 116| C

10/1

Won twice earlier in the season and not disgraced in first-time headgear at Thurles last month before struggling when stepping up in trip in a Grade B Mares handicap hurdle earlier this month. Hard to dismiss but other look more convincing.

Form: 1486D5

I'm Not Alone⁶¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-4| J: Ricky Doyle⁽⁵⁾| T: C O'Dwyer| OR: 98

11/1

Plenty to like about her second run since returning to action in November when finishing third of 16 beaten 3½L over 2m on yielding ground in a Naas maiden hurdle. Strong place claims.

Form: 0-5603

Liffeydale Dreamer^h,t¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-3| J: Sean Flanagan| T: Madeleine Tylicki| OR: 110

10/1

Modest 57-rated handicapper on the Flat for trainer Adrian Keatley. Four race maiden over hurdles but could hold place claims stepping up in trip.

Form: 6255

Iknowwhereiamnow^h²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: L P Dempsey| T: J P Dempsey| OR: 96

5/1

Last run can be ignored when falling at the second flight at Gowran Park last month. Genuine and tough mare who appears to have the habit of 'bumping' in to one. Could be the same story here with better handicapped sorts lurking.

Form: 39072F

Dragon Houdini^t⁶⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-1| J: Donagh Meyler| T: S Crawley| OR: 95

25/1

An €18,000 three-year-old, Yeats filly. Half-sister to bumper winner/fair 2m hurdle winner The Birdie Crowe. Makes limited appeal on evidence of maiden hurdle starts and on handicap debut when last seen in December.

Form: 8840

Elzaa³⁶⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: Shane O'Callaghan⁽⁷⁾| T: A McCann| OR: 90

20/1

17 race maiden and without success in five starts over hurdles. Not seen for over 12 months and best watched returning to action on handicap debut.

Form: PF6U7-

Forecasts

Gliondar Mo Chroi (7/2), Iknowwhereiamnow (5/1), Stucker Hill (5/1), Liffeydale Dreamer (10/1), Smiling Eliza (10/1), Isabel's Gold (11/1), Song Of The Sky (11/1), I'm Not Alone (11/1), Bridge Native (12/1), Alohamora (16/1), Elzaa (20/1), Dragon Houdini (25/1), Water Sprite (25/1)

Potential improver I'M NOT ALONE can land the spoils here for owner J P McManus and trainer Conor O'Dwyer following up on a promising third of 16 beaten over 3L when hampered approaching the last. The daughter of Yeats can hold off the attentions of distance winner Gliondar Mo Chroi and Iknowwhereiamnow who shaped well in defeat in a couple of starts last month. Bridge Native could be worthy of consideration.