16:50 Cheltenham

Thursday 12 March 2020

All13:3014:1014:5015:3016:1016:5017:30

Daylesford Mares' Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2) (Registered As The Dawn Run)

Off time: 16:51 | Winning time: 4m 9.02s

Ard Abhainn⁶²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 137

11/1

Useful form in bumpers and over hurdles taking a Listed event last time justifying favouritism at Thurles. Third to the well-fancied in this Minella Melody in a prior Listed mares novice; improved since then, sound chance given a stamina test.

Form: 1-14131

Emmas Joy²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 135

20/1

Produced a career-best last time to take a Grade 2 mares' novice turning in a dominant display of front-running to win by 3L over 2m3f. Acts over shorter trips with two earlier wins to her name in lesser company over 2m; usually leads, place claims.

Form: 315211

Floressa⁴⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 141| BF

8/1

Good form in mares' novice hurdles winning two of three including when stepping up to Listed grade at Newbury in November (beat three next time out winners). Defeated outside of novice company last time (race not run to suit); worth consideration.

Form: 12-1213

Minella Melody⁴⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 143

11/4

Maintained her unbeaten hurdles record when taking a Fairyhouse (2m2f, soft) Grade 3 to complete a hat-trick in a race that has proved a good guide to this race. Travels strongly, open to further progress, first try at 2m over hurdles, strong chance.

Form: 12-3111

Colreevy⁴⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 135| BF

4/1

Upped in class to a Grade 3 last time and showed form more akin to her useful bumper performances but still has work to do with Minella Melody on that run. Usually leads and will need to make this into a real stamina test to be effective; vulnerable.

Form: 1/3-1212

Concertista³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: D A Jacob| T: W P Mullins| OR: 141

9/2

One of a quartet that the stable run in this (dominated the race); second at a huge price to equally unfancied stablemate in this last year on yard debut. Yet to win over hurdles; looked on the way back on handicap debut last time; worthy contender.

Form: 2-433

Dolcita⁴⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: R M Power| T: W P Mullins| OR: 133

9/1

Outsider of the trio that this yard ran in the Fairyhouse Grade 3 won by Minella Melody last time (managed a sound third). Prior to that she had won a Tramore novice with authority (11L), one time near ante-post favourite for this, progress likely.

Form: 32-13

Fort Worth Texas^p1²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Mr B O'Neill| T: C Bowe| OR: 127

100/1

Cheekpieces go on for the first-time in a bid to find some more improvement after she won a modest mares maiden at Punchestown showing that she handles testing conditions. Won by 10L but this will be a far tougher test.

Form: 126631

Full Of Surprises⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: B J Geraghty| T: N P Mulholland

40/1

Took a Catterick mares' novice on debut despite being weak in the market (16-1) but quickened clear in impressive fashion. Proved a bitter disappointment last time given her debut promise when beaten 33L at Wetherby last time; faces a stiff task.

Form: 15

Getaway Totherock³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: L Treadwell| T: A Ralph| OR: 136

50/1

Fairly useful form this season winning twice at Ludlow with her best performance coming in a 2m5f mares' handicap hurdle last time on debut in that sphere. Remains of interest despite rise in grade but does have to cope with shorter 2m trip.

Form: 01-4141

La Feline⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: B J Cooper| T: P Nolan| OR: 119

100/1

One of the longer-priced Irish challengers who got off the mark last time when building on some previous promise to win a Limerick mares' maiden (2m5f, heavy) by 17L. Up in class and back in trip she won't find this task as easy; others preferred.

Form: 70-021

Mount Ida^t⁷¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Mark Walsh| T: G Elliott| OR: 137| BF

25/1

Appears to be the lesser-fancied of the stables two runners having failed to live up to market expectations when last seen (beaten odds-on favourite). Bumper and hurdles winner (on debut) prior to that, needs to find her best form to be competitive.

Form: 121-123

Rayna's World⁷⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Thomas Dowson| T: P A Kirby| OR: 122| BF

100/1

Useful sort on the Flat who enters this race with just two hurdling starts under her belt having been placed in both starts so far. Returns from an absence with this grade likely to test her although the return to 2m is in her favour.

Form: 32

Rhythm Divine³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: T Gibney| OR: 123

100/1

Yet to win over hurdles (0-9) and comes here on the back of a fall at Leopardstown when making her handicap debut. Best piece of form to her name a 10L second to Elfile (third in Grade 1 Mares' Hurdle on Tuesday); faces a tough ask at this level.

Form: 2-2633F

Rosie And Millie⁸²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Brendan Powell| T: M Scudamore| OR: 132

50/1

Wind op looks to have a positive effect with her first/only win coming on her second start back from that procedure at Ayr (2m, soft). Progressed when last seen to finish second in Listed mares' event; jumps right so course far from suitable.

Form: 32P-212

Timetochill⁴⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Adam Wedge| T: Miss Kelly Morgan| OR: 134| D

66/1

Improving mare who took back-to-back novice races (one against the boys) before being upped into Grade 2 company last time. Had the run of that race (given plenty of rope) and flattered despite finishing just behind Floressa; won't find this easy.

Form: 10-3114

Vienna Court²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 131

50/1

Dual mares' novice hurdle winner over 2m (both times in testing conditions) prior to running creditably last time raised to Grade 2 level over 2m3f. Work to do with the winner Emmas Joy on that running and hard to see her troubling the principals.

Form: 163213

Whitehotchillifili²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: J J Burke| T: H Fry| OR: 131| D

25/1

Useful sort in bumpers who has handled the move to hurdles well resuming winning ways at Exeter last time over 2m. Showed a good turn of foot in that victory; found wanting at this level in bumpers, likely to be the same story here.

Form: 49-3131

Yukon Lil⁴⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins| D

20/1

Would appear to be the least-fancied of the trainer's quartet having finished well beaten last time behind three of today's rivals including Minella Melody. Would have a squeak based on her bumper form plus her useful hurdling debut (won 12L).

Form: 142-715

Midnights' Gift⁴⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-13| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 133| BF| D

80/1

Took her first two start over hurdles (also a Flat winner) taking a Listed fillies' juvenile on her second start at Aintree. Not quite lived up to that billing since in two further mares' events; would need to find more to get involved at this level.

Form: 1124

Anna Bunina^t¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-8| J: D J McInerney| T: J C McConnell

100/1

Useful and progressive mare on the Flat last year for Jedd O'Keeffe, she showed some ability on her hurdling debut (highly tried) finishing a good third to two who should run well in the Boodles; pulled-up when amiss last time, tough test this time.

Form: 3P

Red Archangel³⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-8| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: R Spencer| OR: 117

150/1

Modest Flat maiden who has shown some ability over hurdles with her best effort coming when fifth of nine in Listed juvenile at Doncaster in January. Jumping remains a problem though, would be a big surprise to see her maiden broken here.

Form: 9656

Forecasts

Minella Melody (11/4), Colreevy (4/1), Concertista (9/2), Floressa (8/1), Dolcita (9/1), Ard Abhainn (11/1), Yukon Lil (20/1), Emmas Joy (20/1), Whitehotchillifili (25/1), Mount Ida (25/1), Full Of Surprises (40/1), Vienna Court (50/1), Getaway Totherock (50/1), Rosie And Millie (50/1), Timetochill (66/1), Midnights' Gift (80/1), Rayna's World (100/1), La Feline (100/1), Fort Worth Texas (100/1), Rhythm Divine (100/1), Anna Bunina (100/1), Red Archangel (150/1)

Trainer Willie Mullins has taken all four renewals of this event gaining a 1-2 last year at 50-1 and 66-1 and he fields four in an effort to retain his crown with second last year Concertista bidding to go one better with Dolcita looking the pick of his quartet. Bar the Mullins quartet Ireland have a strong team with Minella Melody holding a good few of her compatriots on various lines of form and she has a leading chance but it’s the Gordon Elliott-trained ARD ABHAINN who may well be the value in the race from an each-way perspective against the likely market leader.