16:50 Cheltenham

Thursday 14 March 2019

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

National Hunt Breeders Supported By Tattersalls Mares' Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2)

Off time: 16:51 | Winning time: 4m 2.74s

Posh Trish⁷⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 145| C| D

3/1

Quickly progressing since adopting forcing tactics on the front end, she has won her last three, including a Listed contest at Taunton in December. No concerns on the ground and she's a leading player.

Form: 0-12111

Queenohearts²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: C Gethings| T: S Edmunds| OR: 134

10/1

Has shown a good attitude in winning her previous two starts, twice holding off Danse Idol including a Sandown Grade 2 (2m4f, soft) last month. This is tougher and drops in distance, but will relish a battle.

Form: 411-211

Sancta Simona^h1,t⁷⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Mark Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 138

20/1

Graded winner in Ireland this season over 2m on good ground against her own sex, she was last spotted chasing Supreme sixth Aramon home at Leopardstown in Future Champions Novice Hurdle at Christmas. Sports first-time hood now.

Form: 2-13112

Sinoria³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 142

11/1

Won her maiden at Down Royal in fine style over 2m4f in December and stepped up on that significantly when defeating subsequent Grade 1-winning gelding Chosen Mate in Listed Novice event at Punchestown (2m, good to yielding) in February. Player.

Form: 1-411

Awayinthewest¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: J S McGarvey| T: P A Fahy| OR: 137| D

100/1

Exposed sort is 2-19 over timber and gained latest success over 2m5½f at Galway in September. Hasn't beaten a rival home in two Fairyhouse starts since the turn of the year, ensuring tough mission forecast here.

Form: 213270

Court Maid³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: D J Mullins| T: T Mullins| OR: 124| D

100/1

Three minor wins in Ireland earlier in the season at 2m-3m on ground ranging from good/soft. Had her limitations exposed in Mares Handicap Hurdle at Leopardstown (2m2f, good) last time and big ask now.

Form: 421110

Lust For Glory¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 134

20/1

Has twice clashed with Posh Trish this term, with scores level. Returned from a break with impressive novice win at Newbury (2m½f, good to soft) last month. Going the right way, but doesn't appear stable's best chance in this field.

Form: 13-1121

Presidente Line³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: A Poirier| T: A Couetil| D

100/1

French raider, decisive winner over timber in December at Pau (2m1½f), decent effort last month on British bow at Taunton (2m½f, soft) in second spot, though that form leaves her plenty to find on ratings.

Form: 2212

Tintangle^p³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 134| D

40/1

Has cut her teeth in some good races this term, though did seem to be held when coming down late on last month in a Punchestown contest won by Sinoria. Bit more required to match likely principles.

Form: 3-F133F

Allez Dance²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: D A Jacob| T: W P Mullins| D

40/1

Built on her French form when landing a Punchestown maiden (2m½f, good to yielding) on debut for Willie Mullins last month. Going to need a large jump forward on that bare form to play a leading role in this contest.

Form: 3FF95-1

Black Tears²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 125

25/1

Came good to win a 2m good-ground maiden hurdle last month at Fairyhouse, having previously let punters down on a couple of occasions in that sphere, much more demanded this time upped in class.

Form: 122-221

Buildmeupbuttercup⁶⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Brian Hayes| T: W P Mullins| BF

66/1

Classy bumper performer made a winning stable and hurdles debut last month in a 29-runner Navan maiden (2m, good) before being outclassed in Grade 2 at Punchestown against the boys. Was fancied for that contest, may bounce back against her own sex.

Form: 1215-15

Concertista⁶²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins

66/1

Daughter of Nathaniel, a four-race maiden on the Flat in France during 2017, she will be returning from a 620-day absence here and, despite lofty connections, she looks up against it on her hurdling bow.

Form:

Dame du Soir²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: T Scudamore| T: D G Bridgwater| OR: 122

100/1

Dual bumper winner in France who justified stable confidence to open her account over hurdles at Leicester. Since well beaten on soft ground at Fontwell and this is a tough assignment seemingly.

Form: 315-216

Diamond Gait^t⁶⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 131| D

100/1

2-3 over timber season but has the best part of 10L to find with Posh Trish on that defeat at Newbury (2m½f, soft) where she perhaps didn't relish the soft ground underneath her.

Form: 258-141

Eglantine Du Seuil¹⁸⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: N D Fehily| T: W P Mullins

50/1

Winner on hurdles bow at Sligo (2m, good) in August and then chased home useful pair in Triplicate and Aramon (ran well in the Supreme here on Tuesday) in September. Off since, there's likely plenty more to come from her.

Form: 1-13

Elfile⁵⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins

50/1

Winner of two of her five starts in bumpers in France, she made a winning start to her hurdles career with a 2m4f maiden win at Punchestown in January, just managing to hold off Black Tears. This is tougher now raised in class and dropping in trip.

Form: 22121-1

Elusive Belle^h1²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Mr Sam Waley-Cohen| T: N J Henderson| OR: 136| BF

20/1

Listed bumper second absolutely hacked up on hurdles/stable debut at Wincanton in January. Runner-up since at Sandown (2m, soft; 4-7f), she sports a first-time hood now under Gold Cup-winning amateur rider.

Form: 53212

Emily Moon³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: R M Power| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 138

25/1

Fifth to top novice Fakir D'Oudairies (fourth in the Supreme) on seasonal bow in January at Cork (2m, soft), she improved on third start to run out an easy winner of a maiden at Naas (2m, good to yielding) and has potential for better things.

Form: 17561

Epatante^h1²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: B J Geraghty| T: N J Henderson| OR: 143| D

15/8

Dual bumper winner in France, including in a Grade 1 contest, she has barely come out of second gear in landing novice events at Kempton and Exeter (2m/2m1f, both good ground). Impossible to know how good she'll be, much-respected in new headgear.

Form: 211-11

Indefatigable⁴⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: G Sheehan| T: P R Webber| OR: 138

33/1

Impressive Uttoxeter novice winner ran in November over 2m on good to soft, has since settled for second best behind Posh Trish and Lady Buttons, latest in Doncaster Grade 2 when rallying late in manner that bodes well.

Form: 31-7122

My Sister Sarah⁷²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Ruby Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 131

13/2

Roscommon bumper winner in August, she is 2-3 over hurdles having won at Punchestown and Fairyhouse over longer trips. Bare form requires improving on, but trainer has won all three renewals of this, two with Ruby Walsh on board (injured last year).

Form: 1121

Forecasts

Epatante (15/8), Posh Trish (3/1), My Sister Sarah (13/2), Queenohearts (10/1), Sinoria (11/1), Elusive Belle (20/1), Lust For Glory (20/1), Sancta Simona (20/1), Black Tears (25/1), Emily Moon (25/1), Indefatigable (33/1), Tintangle (40/1), Allez Dance (40/1), Eglantine Du Seuil (50/1), Elfile (50/1), Concertista (66/1), Buildmeupbuttercup (66/1), Presidente Line (100/1), Court Maid (100/1), Diamond Gait (100/1), Awayinthewest (100/1), Dame du Soir (100/1)

Willie Mullins has won the first three renewals of this and he fires a whopping seven at the target, with a hatful of chances amongst them. Sancta Simona has promising form in the book while Buildmeupbuttercup and Eglantine Du Seuil are very likely improvers. My Sister Sarah gets Ruby Walsh's services and she's progressing nicely, so it is noteworthy the stable jockey selects her. Both Posh Trish and Sinoria have impressed with their form but the potential of EPATANTE is unknown. She has won both starts since coming from France without breaking sweat and is part of a strong Nicky Henderson assault on this. She could be very, very good.