tote Placepot First Bet Of The Day EBF Mares' Novices' Chase

Off time: 13:40 | Winning time: 5m 51.38s

Annie Mc²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 142| D

4/5

Did it comfortably enough when beating If You Say Run at Wincanton (2m4f; heavy) over this trip on Boxing Day. However, she is now 11lb worse off with that rival so has a stiff task on to confirm those placings.

Form: 151-411

If You Say Run^p,t⁴³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Bryony Le Clerc| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 137| BF| D

10/11

Not disgraced behind Reserve Tank two starts ago, and then had to concede 5lbs to Annie Mc when a four-length second most recently. Much better off at the weights with that rival, so should reverse the form without much fuss.

Form: 32P-122

Tinctoria^t⁵⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 10-12| J: Miss L Brooke⁽⁷⁾| T: Lady S Brooke| OR: 64| D

66/1

Point-to-point winner. Masses to find with her two rivals. 0-19 under rules. Was tailed off before falling at the last when having just her second start of this campaign at Hereford (2m; soft). Best watched.

Form: P/3P-1PF

Forecasts

Annie Mc (4/5), If You Say Run (10/11), Tinctoria (66/1)

With Tinctoria having a mountain to climb against her two rivals on official ratings, this looks a match race between both the unbeaten Annie Mc and IF YOU SAY RUN. The former has done nothing wrong since being sent over the bigger obstacles at the start of the season, and she held the latter (who was sent off 1-2f) comfortably when in receipt of 5lbs last time out. However, there is a major turnaround in the weights this time which should enable Paul Nicholls' Highclere-owned mare to regain the winning thread and take her record over fences to 2-4.