Houghton Mares' Chase (Listed) (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:50 | Winning time: 5m 21.62s

Chilli Filli²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: R Patrick| T: H D Daly| OR: 143| D

11/2

Fairly useful hurdler who has made great start over fences, much improved on return when landing 3m listed event at Market Rasen. This is tougher still but she's much respected.

Form: 40/321-1

Happy Diva^t¹⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: J E Moore| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 151| D

5/6

Smart and likeable mare who landed last season's Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham and was running well when falling 2 out in latest renewal 15 days ago. Clear form pick and should be hard to beat.

Form: 1242-5F

Dolly Dancer^t²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Ross Chapman| T: M A Barnes| OR: 117| D

50/1

Fairly useful ex-Irish mare who ran her best race for her current yard when second of 8 in 17f handicap chase at Kelso 22 days ago. Proven at the trip but this demands a lot more.

Form: 502532

Early Morning Rain^t¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 124

11/2

Fairly useful winning hurdler who (9/1 and tongue tied) made encouraging start over fences when second in 3m novice at Uttoxeter 15 days ago. Sure to build on that but has plenty on her plate here.

Form: 61564-2

Flower Of Scotland⁴⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Ryan Mania| T: A M Thomson| OR: 120

28/1

Fair maiden hurdler/chaser for David Cottin in France but (9/2) dropped out tamely from 3 out when pulled up in 17f novice hurdle here last month on yard debut. Lots to prove now.

Form: 256-2PP

My Old Gold²⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-0| J: B S Hughes| T: N G Richards| OR: 145| C

4/1

Low-mileage chaser who ended last season with excellent second over 3m here but disappointed on her return when pulled up in listed event at Market Rasen won by Chilli Filli. Needs to bounce back.

Form: 1/4142-P

Forecasts

Happy Diva (5/6), My Old Gold (4/1), Chilli Filli (11/2), Early Morning Rain (11/2), Flower Of Scotland (28/1), Dolly Dancer (50/1)

HAPPY DIVA is a really likeable mare and looks to have been found an excellent opportunity to get back on track having departed 2 out in Cheltenham's Paddy Power Gold Cup earlier in the month when set to be placed. Chilli Filli returned an improved model when scoring at Market Rasen so appeals as the one to chase home Kerry Lee's smart mare, with Early Morning Rain the pick of the remainder.