15:50 Cheltenham

Thursday 18 April 2019

All14:0514:4015:1515:5016:2516:5517:30

JRL Group Mares' Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:50 | Winning time: 6m 51.7s

Molly Childers^p²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: C Gethings| T: S Edmunds| OR: 130

4/1

Highly-consistent mare finished out of the frame for the first time in nine starts latest when fourth of five at Warwick. Only 1lb higher than January Wincanton win so capable of going close again here.

Form: 232124

Same Circus^p²³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: W T Kennedy| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 130

20/1

Three-time chase winner but put in two poor runs in three starts since Bangor victory in December. Remains 5lb higher than that success and her inconsistency is a worry.

Form: F41526

Aunty Ann¹⁵⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Jordan Nailor⁽⁷⁾| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 127

13/2

Won twice earlier in the season at Uttoxeter (3m) and Wincanton (3m1f) before going on her customary winter break. Would need a career best off this mark here and record fresh recommends looking elsewhere.

Form: 215514

Cabaret Queen^t¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 123

4/1

Won back-to-back starts last summer but flopped four times since. Beaten over 50L into last after a break most recently so despite stable's hot streak she is hard to fancy.

Form: 11P5P7

Socksy^p²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: C Brace⁽⁷⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 121

9/1

Beaten a head in a handicap chase over 3m at Wetherby (good-to-soft) in December but off the boil in two starts since over both 3m5f and 3m. Quicker ground here may assist but will need to bounce back.

Form: 7-92264

Goodnight Charlie^b⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: Bridget Andrews| T: C Fryer| OR: 117

11/2

Warwick specialist won twice there this season (3m and 3m5f) but flopped back over hurdles latest. Hopeful that a return to fences will show her in a better light here and for all she's not obviously well handicapped she is capable of going well.

Form: P2021P

The Wicket Chicken^p¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: R T Dunne| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 114

7/1

Now 0-7 over fences and for all she has placed several times few of those have actually see her go close including latest third of five which saw her beaten 20L. Will need career best today.

Form: 234243

Sheneededtherun^t³⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: N de Boinville| T: B Pauling| OR: 104| BF

9/2

Pleasing start to life for this yard when second over 3m at Warwick but disappointing there next when upped to 3m5f where she actually ran as if wanting even further. Handicap not impossible but must bounce back.

Form: 632425

Forecasts

Molly Childers (4/1), Cabaret Queen (4/1), Sheneededtherun (9/2), Goodnight Charlie (11/2), Aunty Ann (13/2), The Wicket Chicken (7/1), Socksy (9/1), Same Circus (20/1)

Few of these mares arrive in great form which makes this a really tricky contest. Consistent sort MOLLY CHILDERS looks the safest bet therefore with her record quite admirable. Goodnight Charlie must be forgiven her latest hurdles run but her earlier form over fences ought to see her go close. Sheneededtherun could go well off bottom-weight also.