Olly Murphy Racing Mares' Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:05 | Winning time: 5m 14.10s

Evidence De Thaix²⁵⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 120

3/1

Bred to want fences, and no surprise connections wasting little time with her over hurdles; form last year rather tailed off and she starts this year with a couple of questions to answer, but no surprise if she improved a chunk for fences today.

Form: 11/21P9-

Quick Wave¹⁹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 116

11/4

Hit the frame in two of her three hurdles starts before disappointing at Newton Abbot on final start, possibly something amiss; bred to want fences and very early days with her, so could easily take a leap forward form-wise here.

Form: 4244/2-P

Etamine Du Cochet^t²¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 114

3/1

Won a maiden hurdle at Huntingdon in January but in truth didn't progress as expected after that, and was a bit disappointing on final start at Hexham; may do better over fences but that's not a given, and on balance, others make more appeal.

Form: 2P13U3-

Miss Mash²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: T J O'Brien| T: H D Daly| OR: 113| D

14/1

Regular in these Mares chases, has stacks of experience which will stand her in good stead here; usually takes a couple of races to get fit, so two moderate efforts this autumn forgiven, and with conditions fine, could go well today.

Form: 6653-U8

Rosemary Russet^t³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: S Bowen| T: H Fry| OR: 109| BF

3/1

Just the one win in 15 starts and placed too many times for comfort over hurdles; wasn't progressing last year and though again well backed to score at Wincanton last time, never threatened; needs switch to fences to improve the situation.

Form: 24243-4

Forecasts

Quick Wave (11/4), Evidence De Thaix (3/1), Etamine Du Cochet (3/1), Rosemary Russet (3/1), Miss Mash (14/1)

Some of these need to start showing some improvement now they see a fence, not least Rosemary Russet who promises plenty but rarely delivers. Evidence De Thaix looks a potential improver and Quick Wave ought to do better as well, but testing conditions and experience on her side might bring out the best in MISS MASH here and she she can come out on top. Etamine Du Cochet has a few questions to answer on her return.