EBF Mares' Novices' Chase

Off time: 14:30 | Winning time: 5m 25.40s

Litterale Ci⁴³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Aidan Coleman| T: H Fry| OR: 140| D

1/1

Well held behind Lady Buttons in Doncaster Grade 2 over hurdles latest but she beat smart rivals including Southfield Stone in previous chase run at Exeter in October. Should take care of this field on these terms.

Form: 12-P136

Black Tulip⁷²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: R Johnson| T: H D Daly| OR: 112| BF| C

2/1

Some consistent form despite being 0-9 over fences; suspicion however that she would prefer a better surface to race on and plenty to find in any case.

Form: P53-33P

Ellens Way^t1⁵²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Matt Griffiths| T: J Scott| OR: 119| C

4/1

Three-time hurdles winner in the distant past but pulled up both starts after missing 728 days and hard to recommend now turning attention to chasing as a result. First-time tongue-tie added.

Form: 6711/PP

Etamine Du Cochet^t⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Conor Shoemark| T: D Skelton| OR: 109

16/1

Modest over timber and hasn't been able to land a blow in two starts over fences; latest on the back of wind surgery at Doncaster nine days ago.

Form: 13U3-33

Sea Destination^t¹¹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: James Best| T: Miss J Du Plessis

50/1

Point-to-point winner (May 2017); has made little impact in two starts under rules (at big prices) after missing big chunk of time. Hard to see how she'll be the solution in this contest and others preferred readily.

Form: 6PP1/45

Non-Runners

Massini's Dream²

Weight: 10-12| Age: 9

T: Christian Williams J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Litterale Ci (1/1), Black Tulip (2/1), Ellens Way (4/1), Massini's Dream (6/1), Etamine Du Cochet (16/1), Sea Destination (50/1)

A weak affair and one in which LITTERALE CI has a gilt-edged opportunity to make it 2-3 over fences for trainer Harry Fry. She was far from disgraced in a Doncaster Grade 2 over hurdles and will take some holding based on her October's Exeter chase success. Very few of the remainder make appeal. Massini's Dream made a pleasing start over fences at Ffos Las 48 hours ago and is no certainty to turn up, so Black Tulip earns the nod for second spot, while Ellens Way needs to recapture hurdles form of old to be a threat.