13:50 Cheltenham

Friday 15 December 2023

All12:0512:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:35

Cheltenham Racecourse Food Bank Collection Mares' Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:50 | Winning time: 5m 21.39s

La Malmason³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 12-1| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 126

11/4

Hurdles winner on debut last November and shaped well when third to Found A Fifty in a Down Royal maiden chase (19.6f, soft) last month, on just her third start in this sphere. That form looks strong (winner has since finished second in a Grade 1) and improvement likely now pitched into a handicap.

Form: 520-7U3

Happy D'ex¹⁸⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: Sean Houlihan| T: Sheila Lewis| OR: 124

200/1

Dual hurdles scorer and initially looked like a winner-in-waiting over fences last season. However, she ran no sort of a race at Perth when last seen in June and is opposable starting out for new yard here.

Form: 2322-6P

Royale Margaux^t⁴⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Benjamin Poste| T: T Symonds| OR: 123WS

9/1

Five-time hurdles/dual chase winner in France for David Cottin and posted best effort on these shores when second in 6-runner mares' handicap chase here (16.3f, good) in April. Safely held on return in October (since undergone another wind op) but likely to strip fitter now and couldn't rule out.

Form: 55P42-8

Walk In Clover²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 122| CD

6/1

Improved during the spring, winner of a competitive C&D mares' handicap and another over 3m at Southwell within the space of 8 days. Hasn't done much wrong since, most recently finishing third of 11 back here (2m, good to soft) last month, and she has to enter calculations.

Form: 1-423F3

Eureka Creek²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Joe Anderson⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 121

16/1

Successful Irish pointer/hurdler who made an impressive winning start to life over fences in 3-runner handicap at Uttoxeter last November. Best effort since when third upped to 23.5f at Lingfield last month but will need to improve on that if she's to regain the winning thread here,

Form: 5/163-83

Lilith^b,t³²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Rex Dingle| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 118| D

22/1

Put in a good round of jumping when scoring at Carlisle (21f, good to soft) in February but she was nowhere near as sure-footed when well held on return at Kempton last month. Opposable.

Form: 33133-6

Mad About Sally²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Ben Jones| T: O Signy| OR: 115

8/1

Ended last season with a couple of rather indifferent performances following Fontwell chase debut success but firmly back on track with a decisive reappearance display at Chepstow (23.6f, soft). Now 9 lb higher in a tougher race but will be a threat if able to build on that.

Form: 1P136-1

Petticoat Lucy³²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Lorcan Williams| T: J Scott| OR: 113| D

11/1

Fair hurdler who showed improved form under a change of tactics to make a winning start over fences at Newton Abbot in May. Made it 2-2 in this sphere with another good round of jumping on return at Exeter (19.2f, soft) but followed that with a disappointing effort at Kempton.

Form: 433-117

I Am Gonna Be^t⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: P W Wadge⁽³⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 112

14/1

Fairly useful bumper/hurdles winner for Michael Scudamore and made a promising start for her new stable when runner-up in a first-time tongue strap (retained) on chase debut at Ayr (20.5f, good). Open to improvement in this sphere and one to consider for in-form yard.

Form: 2124P-2

Malaita²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Mrs M Rowley| OR: 111| C

4/1

Bumper winner who improved when bagging mares' handicap hurdles at Carlisle and here last term. Has made a positive start to life over fences, second at Ludlow before finishing fourth on ground that was probably too testing for her at Warwick (2½m, heavy). Bold show anticipated.

Form: 411-224

Pougne Aminta⁵⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: J J Burke| T: A Ralph| OR: 110| D

25/1

Irish point winner who scored with any amount in hand in a weak mares' maiden hurdle at Wetherby in March. Fair third on return/chase debut at Ludlow (2½m, soft) but she was 6½ lengths adrift of Malaita on that occasion, so improvement is needed.

Form: 1/7214-3

Brianna Rose^p1²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: S Bowen| T: M Keighley| OR: 105

9/1

Consistent hurdler who has taken well to chasing, scoring in a match at Uttoxeter before runner-up in handicap at Newton Abbot (25.8f, good to soft) in July. However, tame effort back from a break at Market Rasen and now tried in cheekpieces.

Form: 334-12P

Non-Runners

Game On For Glory²³

Weight: 11-8| Age: 7

T: L Wadham J: Non Runner

Forecasts

La Malmason (11/4), Malaita (4/1), Walk In Clover (6/1), Mad About Sally (8/1), Royale Margaux (9/1), Brianna Rose (9/1), Game On For Glory (10/1), Petticoat Lucy (11/1), I Am Gonna Be (14/1), Eureka Creek (16/1), Lilith (22/1), Pougne Aminta (25/1), Happy D'ex (200/1)

This looks very competitive, with several appealing candidates on show. MALAITA wasn't beaten far on ground that was probably slower than ideal at Warwick last time and she could take some catching back here (winner over hurdles on sole previous visit to this course) with underfoot conditions likely to be more favourable. Irish raider La Malmason looks a big threat on her handicap debut in this sphere, while Royale Margaux and Walk In Clover are others to consider, along with I Am Gonna Be.