15:40 Cheltenham

Saturday 14 December 2019

All12:1012:4513:2013:5514:3015:0515:40

Park Mares' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:40 | Winning time: 5m 13.45s

Indefatigable⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: G Sheehan| T: P R Webber| OR: 137| BF| CD

11/2

Produced an excellent first season over hurdles winning twice and far from disgraced in the Listed mares' hurdle at the Festival. Easy to forgive her second to Lady Buttons last time at Wetherby, the 2m looking too sharp, this trip will suit better.

Form: 2251-52

The Cull Bank²⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 135

25/1

Irish point-to-point winner who scored on her first two Rules starts taking mares' novice hurdles at Fontwell and Plumpton. Lost her unbeaten record when outpaced by the top weight over C&D in April; opening mark looks stiff enough.

Form: 3P/1112-

Lust For Glory²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Mr Sam Waley-Cohen⁽³⁾| T: N J Henderson| OR: 134

5/1

Stablemate of the likely favourite who landed a couple of novice hurdles last season. Changed hands in the interim for £235,000, produced a decent effort when returning at Ascot last time; left with plenty to do, interesting back versus mares'.

Form: 12105-2

Vision Du Puy⁴²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 134

20/1

French juvenile hurdle winner before scoring in easy fashion on her GB/stable debut at Perth in the spring. Lost her unbeaten record when returning to action in November (Indefatigable, second), still showed promise and not out of this.

Form: 11-3

Dame De Compagnie^h²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: B J Geraghty| T: N J Henderson| OR: 132| CD

2/1

Progressive sort over hurdles having been a bumper winner in France. Won a Listed mares' novice over C&D (April 2018) prior to being off for 19 months; showed plenty of promise on her comeback in Greatwood, off the same mark here, leading chance.

Form: 21521/5

Dinos Benefit^p1³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: H Cobden| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 132

33/1

Proved to be a much better sort last term winning over hurdles and fences. Hard to work up much enthusiasm for either of her chase starts this autumn turning in a lacklustre display last time (not for the first time); plenty to prove, cheekpieces on.

Form: P213-48

Mega Yeats²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: Ruth Jefferson| OR: 131| D

13/2

Produced a good first season in bumpers/over hurdles winning three times making the most of a simple task to record her last win at Market Rasen in March. Better for her comeback run at Haydock (3m) in a tough handicap, has potential to improve.

Form: 12131-7

Carrolls Milan⁸⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: C Brace⁽³⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 129| BF

20/1

From a stable that can do little wrong at the moment she ended last season on an upward curve finding improvement each time to land a handicap hat-trick. Failed in her four-timer bid after a five month break, could be the handicapper now holds sway.

Form: 22111-3

Misty Bloom³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Adam Wedge| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 128

16/1

Resumed her progressive/winning ways last time at Wincanton having proved victorious on seasonal return. Appeared suited by the strip last time (2m5f), staying on strongly; developed into a likeable mare but is up 11lb from her last win.

Form: 242-131

Queens Cave³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 128

10/1

Irish point-to-point winner on debut who also won her first race under Rules, a Uttoxeter bumper in testing conditions. Off the mark over hurdles when landing the odds at Exeter last month; respected but has been handed a stiff enough mark.

Form: 112/P-21

Liberty Bella¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: R T Dunne| T: B Eckley| OR: 126

33/1

Taken a marked step forward over hurdles having looked modest in bumpers scoring twice against her own sex in novice hurdles last season. Took the runner-up slot last time on just her second handicap start, more needed here though to succeed.

Form: 1154-52

Midnightreferendum³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Alexander Thorne⁽⁷⁾| T: A King| OR: 123

20/1

Showed up well in bumpers and got her hurdling career back on track after a wind op when scoring on handicap debut at Warwick in April. Well held on her comeback run (may well have needed the outing), mark looks a little too testing.

Form: 71441-9

Shambra²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Maxime Tissier⁽⁵⁾| T: L Wadham| OR: 122

20/1

Should be well suited by this trip having travelled well over further at Ascot last time off 1lb lower (made her move into the race too quickly). Regained the winning thread on her previous start looking at home over this trip; could outrun her odds.

Form: 2233-13

River Arrow²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: Benjamin Poste| T: T Symonds| OR: 121| D

16/1

Lightly-raced since recording her first win in a Southwell novice back in March 2017. Shaped well after six months off at Uttoxeter last time over 2m7f (only her second attempt at the trip); looks on a good mark as long as she gets a test of stamina.

Form: 52/95-72

Sixty's Belle²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: James Nixon⁽⁵⁾| T: T Symonds| OR: 120

33/1

Off the mark in a mares' novice hurdle at Newton Abbot in May building on her previous promise (last run for Alan King's yard). Sold out of that yard for £42,000 to current connections she still looks to be finding her way with this yard.

Form: 422-189

Deputy Jones^t¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: James Best| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 111

50/1

Yet to win under Rules she is a winning point-to-pointer although this is a far bigger test than she's faced before (not really hit the mark in handicaps so far). Third over 3m at Taunton last time, this trip may suit better, eligible for weaker heat

Form: 1/3-3353

Non-Runners

Brillare Momento¹⁷¹

Weight: 11-2| Age: 8

T: M Keighley J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Dame De Compagnie (2/1), Lust For Glory (5/1), Indefatigable (11/2), Mega Yeats (13/2), Queens Cave (10/1), River Arrow (16/1), Misty Bloom (16/1), Midnightreferendum (20/1), Carrolls Milan (20/1), Shambra (20/1), Vision Du Puy (20/1), The Cull Bank (25/1), Brillare Momento (25/1), Liberty Bella (33/1), Dinos Benefit (33/1), Sixty's Belle (33/1), Deputy Jones (50/1)

A big field handicap and a competitive turnout for this mares’ event with Nicky Henderson looking to hold two of the key cards in Dame De Compagnie and LUST FOR GLORY. The former advertised her credentials for this with a very promising fifth here last time out but she’s been well found in the market and the latter is preferred after her sterling effort at Ascot last time. Plenty of others can be given a chance with Queen’s Cave who won’t fail through lack of stamina, Misty Bloom (improving sort) and Indefatigable (suited by this trip) all worthy of more than a second glance. Of those likely to be at bigger prices River Arrow who shaped nicely at Uttoxeter and Shambra can’t be ignored.