EBF Mares' Novices' Chase

Off time: 13:50 | Winning time: 4m 44.10s

Midnight Tune^t³³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Aidan Coleman| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 131

2/5

Three-time hurdles scorer twice second over fences before winning in a canter at 4/9 latest in a 3m Uttoxeter novice. Carries a 6lb penalty and drops 7f in trip but is rated 9lb better than her rivals so still highly respected.

Form: 10/2F-21

Dame du Soir²⁸⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Brendan Powell| T: D G Bridgwater| OR: 122

11/2

Good ground Leicester novice hurdle winner over 2m found out in Cheltenham Grade Two when last seen. Bred to jump a fence so not ruled out by any means first time over them and lightly raced profile suggests best may be to come.

Form: 15/216P-

Outofthisworld³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: S Bowen| T: H Fry| OR: 122| D

4/1

1-7 over hurdles and last seen finishing a close fourth in a Taunton handicap off a handicap mark of 122. From a respected yard so jumping should be proficient and has to be taken seriously here.

Form: 12P9-F4

Non-Runners

Sea Destination³⁶

Weight: 11-0| Age: 8

T: Miss J Du Plessis J: James Best

Forecasts

Midnight Tune (2/5), Outofthisworld (4/1), Dame du Soir (11/2), Sea Destination (33/1)

Although dropping back to 2m1f from 3m is certainly not ideal MIDNIGHT TUNE is taken to overcome that and her 6lb penalty with her experience (four chases) a significant bonus over her two realistic rivals on paper. With Outofthisworld and Dame du Soir both rated 122 and running over fences for the first time they are hard to split with the only slight edge being the former's more prolific yard.