15:40 Leicester

Tuesday 2 March 2021

All14:1014:4015:1015:4016:1016:40

Every Race Live On Racing TV Mares' Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:40 | Winning time: 5m 29.2s

Phoenix Rock²⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: James Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 105

33/1

Consistent sort for Jonjo O'Neill and good second in 3m handicap chase at Market Rasen back from 7 months off last July. Inauspicious start for this yard at Chepstow, but claims if on-song this time.

Form: 132-25P

Festival Dawn³²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 103

4/1

Well held both starts since returning from 21 months off, including on chase debut at Doncaster at the end of January. Fair bit to prove at present.

Form: 2274/96

Kilganer Queen^t⁹⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 11-9| J: Lee Edwards| T: A West| OR: 102| D

14/1

Capable performer in Ireland, but form tailed off pretty badly last year and revival needed on this debut for new yard.

Form: 450560

Roseisaroseisarose²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Benjamin Poste| T: Katy Price| OR: 101WS

13/2

Some decent pieces of form to her name over hurdles, but offered little on last month's Ffos Las chase debut (subsequently undergone wind surgery).

Form: 7-3345P

Happy News^t⁴⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Jordan Nailor⁽³⁾| T: J Groucott| OR: 99| D

17/2

Improved for a tongue strap this term, winning over this trip at Ludlow on return in December and creditable fourth of 16 there (23.8f, heavy) last time. Should make her presence felt.

Form: 80U-144

Arqalina¹³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 95

11/4

Back on track in no uncertain terms with a decisive all-the-way success over 21f at Hereford (heavy) 13 days ago. Reproduction of that may well suffice here, for all that she's now 8 lb higher.

Form: 4P-5361

Miss Zip^v⁵⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 94| BF

10/1

Ended last season with a hat-trick in handicap chases in the mud under this rider. Not in the same form this time round, though, and it's probably best to look elsewhere.

Form: 11-665P

Episode^t¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Joshua Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 93

5/1

Still a maiden, but she left previous chase form behind when finding just one too good at Fakenham in December. Claims if able to build on that effort.

Form: P3-9520

Boro Babe²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: David Noonan| T: Nick Williams| OR: 93

11/1

Built for chasing and made a positive start in this sphere when second in a 9-runner Ffos Las handicap (19.4f, heavy) last month. Won't be far away if able to at least match that form here.

Form: 6-88302

Non-Runners

Miss Antipova¹³

Weight: 10-8| Age: 9

T: M Keighley J: James Best

Forecasts

Arqalina (11/4), Festival Dawn (4/1), Episode (5/1), Roseisaroseisarose (13/2), Happy News (17/2), Miss Zip (10/1), Boro Babe (11/1), Kilganer Queen (14/1), Phoenix Rock (33/1), Miss Antipova (50/1)

This mark has proved beyond ARQALINA in the past, but it may be a different story this time round. Indeed, she displayed a willing attitude when striking at Hereford 13 days ago and that is by far the most persuasive piece of recent form on evidence here. Episode is next on the list having hit the crossbar on her latest start in this sphere at Fakenham. Boro Babe also enters calculations.