13:15 Cheltenham

Friday 11 December 2020

All11:3012:0512:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:35

CF Roberts Electrical & Mechanical Services Mares' Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:16 | Winning time: 5m 30.96s

Arian^p,t²³

Age: 8| Weight: 12-3| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 126| D

5/1

Improved model for new yard this season, making it 2-2 with more in hand than margin suggests at Warwick (20f) last month. Handicapper applies more pressure but that may not prove her limit.

Form: 633F-11

Sweet Adare^p1,t²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: T Scudamore| T: V R A Dartnall| OR: 121

11/1

Fairly useful winning hurdler last season who stepped up on chase debut effort without threatening at Wincanton (15.7f) recently. Return to positive tactics/longer trip may help now. Cheekpieces on.

Form: 1172-57

Nikap^h²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Kieren Buckley⁽⁷⁾| T: N J Hawke| OR: 120

11/2

Fair 2m hurdle winner who showed benefit of her chase debut experience when keeping on well for second at Warwick (20f, soft) last month. 2 lb higher now but not discounted on back of latest effort.

Form: 1583-32

Bit On The Side³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 120| D

14/1

Dual winner at 21f over hurdles this term (including on return). Encouraging second on chase debut at Fakenham (21.2f) and probably best not judged too harshly on latest Market Rasen effort.

Form: P-11324

Stop Talking^p1³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish| OR: 117| D

10/1

Fairly useful hurdles winner who shaped well on back of 14 months off when 2.5 lengths second on chase debut at Ayr (20.5f) in October. Creditable third back over hurdles since and she's interesting.

Form: 9353-23

Martila²³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: C O'Farrell| T: Miss P Robson| OR: 115

7/1

Losing run is mounting up but she did shape well from a sliding mark when third at Warwick (20f) 23 days ago, fading late on in race won by Arian. This even more competitive.

Form: 2332-73

Everlanes^t³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: David Bass| T: Kieran Burke| OR: 115WS

10/1

Positive start to chasing last season, doubling her tally at Kempton (3m) in March. Rather low-key return this winter however and she needs to step up again to figure on back of a wind op.

Form: 3121-7P

Black Tulip^p⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: R Patrick| T: H D Daly| OR: 115| D

7/1

Fairly useful hurdles winner who belatedly shed maiden tag over fences at Uttoxeter (22.5f) in October, responding brilliantly to an attacking ride. She may go well again under similar tactics here.

Form: 33P2-31

Fally Jem³⁶³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 114WS

33/1

Won over fences/hurdles in France but easy to back and ultimately well held on yard debut over hurdles 12 months ago. Undergone wind surgery ahead of return and the market should guide.

Form: 30/6485-

Agent Valdez^t⁸^{(ex 7)}

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 101

4/1

Ex-pointer who was winless over hurdles but more like it sent chasing, coping well in gruelling conditions to score at Leicester (22.7f) 8 days ago. This tougher under a penalty but she's respected.

Form: P62-731

Madera Mist^t1⁴⁵

33/1

Winning pointer who stepped up on hurdling exploits to twice hit the frame over fences last term. Possible her return at Bangor was needed but more needed in this deeper race on back of a wind op.

Form: 533P3-5

Non-Runners

Jubilympics³²

Weight: 11-9| Age: 8

T: Miss E C Lavelle J: James Bowen

Forecasts

Agent Valdez (4/1), Arian (5/1), Nikap (11/2), Black Tulip (7/1), Martila (7/1), Stop Talking (10/1), Jubilympics (10/1), Everlanes (10/1), Sweet Adare (11/1), Bit On The Side (14/1), Madera Mist (33/1), Fally Jem (33/1)

ARIAN has thrived upon joining Philip Hobbs this winter, successful at Newton Abbot prior to winning with more to spare than the margins suggest at Warwick last month. She gets the nod to complete the hat-trick in an admittedly competitive mares' event. Black Tulip looked as good as ever under an attacking ride latest and is feared, along with Agent Valdez and Stop Talking.