13:00 Hereford

Saturday 16 December 2023

All11:5512:2513:0013:3514:1314:4815:22

Download The PlanetSportBet App Mares' Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:04 | Winning time: 6m 20.98s

Kestrel Valley^t⁵³

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: James Turner⁽⁷⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 120| CD

9/2

Made a winning start for Kerry Lee at Ludlow in March and followed up in emphatic fashion at this C&D 3 weeks later. After 7 months off, picked up where she left off having joined Nigel Twiston-Davies when easily making all here in October, so she looks to hold leading claims.

Form: 64911-1

Shirocco's Dream^t⁴⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard| OR: 114| CD

15/2

Made winning start over fences at Huntingdon (23.6f) in February and, after 6 months off (had a wind op), value for extra when scoring at this C&D 40 days ago, closed down only late on. Can give another good account back at this venue.

Form: 0142-21

Presenting A Queen^p1²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Ben Jones| T: C Gordon| OR: 112

10/1

Won 2 bumpers and a 19.5f Chepstow novice hurdle on her first 3 starts under Rules. Showed signs of temperament later in 2022/23, but she stepped up on her seasonal/chase debut when second to Heva Rose at Lingfield 25 days ago. Cheekpieces now reached for.

Form: 2420-32

Lazy Sunday^t²²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: M G Nolan| T: R Mitford-Slade| OR: 111

11/1

Completed a hat-trick in handicap chases earlier this year and has held her form well since, finishing runner-up for the third start in a row at Chepstow (23.6f) 22 days ago. Can give her running again, but she may just find others better treated.

Form: 1112-22

Stanley Stanley²²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Shane Quinlan⁽³⁾| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 110WS

8/1

Won brace of handicap hurdles for Paul Nicholls during summer of 2021 and opened her chase account at the third attempt when successful at Ffos Las (23.8f) in May, ridden more positively under Shane Quinlan. Merits consideration on her return (has had a wind op).

Form: 211/46-1

Aimee De Sivola^p⁴⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: David Noonan| T: Mrs J Williams| OR: 108

33/1

Fairly useful handicap hurdler at her best but she's yet to fully convince as a chaser, faring no better than on her reappearance when fifth of 8 at this C&D last month (race won by Shirocco's Dream). Has work to do.

Form: 2927-45

Lily Glitters²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: D A Jacob| T: H D Daly| OR: 105| C

12/1

Four-time winner in staying handicap hurdles and matched that level at the second attempt over fences when runner-up at this C&D in October, albeit no match for Kestrel Valley. However, ran poorly when pulled up last time, so she looks to face a difficult ask.

Form: 9154-2P

Do You Think⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Dylan Whelan⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 104| BF| CD

5/1

Made a winning debut over fences at this C&D last season but didn't go on as hoped during the rest of the campaign. However, after 6 months off she ran well under Dylan Whelan when second here behind Shirocco's Dream in November. Task is now to build on her latest effort.

Form: 1323-U2

Heva Rose¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Harry Bannister| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 101| BF

5/2

After a second wind op, proved a different proposition back over fences when making a winning return at Lingfield (20f) in November, hard held. Did little wrong when runner-up at the same C&D 9 days later, so she's respected with more to offer upped in trip.

Form: 4079-12

Penny Mallow²²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-9| J: Miss Lucy Turner⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 101

28/1

Bumper/hurdles winner but well below that level in 4 starts over fences so far, reported to have bled when fourth of 5 at Chepstow on her return (first run since having a wind op). Has something to prove at present.

Form: 643/6P-4

Spitfire Girl^b1²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: William Featherstone⁽¹⁰⁾| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 98

33/1

Winning hurdler who was first past the post on her Ffos Las chase debut/reappearance, losing the race in the stewards' room after causing interference on the run-in. However, well held both starts since, so needs to get back on track with blinkers on first time.

Form: P41-D35

Non-Runners

Walk In Clover¹

Weight: 12-2| Age: 6

T: D Skelton J: Tristan Durrell

Forecasts

Heva Rose (5/2), Kestrel Valley (9/2), Do You Think (5/1), Walk In Clover (13/2), Shirocco's Dream (15/2), Stanley Stanley (8/1), Presenting A Queen (10/1), Lazy Sunday (11/1), Lily Glitters (12/1), Penny Mallow (28/1), Aimee De Sivola (33/1), Spitfire Girl (33/1)

KESTREL VALLEY has been thriving of late, recording another wide-margin success at this C&D when making all on her seasonal/stable debut in October. The 9-y-o is taken to land this series final in her current form, with Heva Rose the main danger as she goes up in trip. Stanley Stanley also enters calculations on her return.