William Hill NRNB Cheltenham From January 1st Mares' Handicap Chase

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 120

Off the mark over fences when taking 5-runner novice at Warwick in March and going well when falling heavily 3 out on return at Perth in September. Has looked short of pace under hold-up tactics both starts since but eased in the weights and could be a threat if ridden more positively here.

Form: 413-F55

Midnight Mary^p¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Bryony Frost| T: L Wadham| OR: 114| C| D

Good strike rate over hurdles (4-12) and perfect start in this sphere when landing a 6-runner mares' handicap here (19.4f, soft) in January. Hasn't done a great deal wrong in 6 subsequent appearances but she's probably a shade too high in the weights for now.

Form: 222-435

Gazette Bourgeoise^p,t¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Harry Bannister| T: B I Case| OR: 114

Scored twice over hurdles and, though yet to strike in this sphere, she went close to doing so in this headgear combination when returning from 8 months off at Ffos Las (21.5f, heavy). 3 lb nudge fair enough and she's a major player back up in trip here.

Form: 42355-2

Anti Bridgie^t³³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Henry Brooke| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 113| BF

Fair form in winning her first 2 starts over hurdles at Sedgefield and Kelso last season and shaped well on chase debut when third in 7-runner event at Carlisle in October. Another promising effort when again third at Catterick (25.2f, good to soft) last month and she merits respect.

Form: 1P33-33

Shighness⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: B S Hughes| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 107| C

Consistent performer over hurdles last term, winning twice at Market Rasen (23.1f), and given a considerate introduction to chasing after 7 months off when fourth at Carlisle. However, it would be something of an understatement to say that she failed to build on that next time.

Form: 4143-4P

Onestepatatime^p²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J S Wainwright| OR: 100| BF| D

Enhanced health strike rate over fences when landing a 6-runner handicap at Sedgefield (26.9f, heavy) on penultimate start. Wasn't disgraced off this revised mark over the same C&D next time, for all that she failed to justify short-priced favouritism, and couldn't rule out.

Form: 126-414

Forecasts

Gazette Bourgeoise (9/4), Anti Bridgie (3/1), Midnight Mary (9/2), Haute Estime (5/1), Onestepatatime (6/1), Shighness (12/1)

GAZETTE BOURGEOISE travelled best throughout the race and was only mugged in the dying strides when returning to action at Ffos Las recently. Moving back up in trip here will not be a problem and she is taken to open her chase account at the eighth attempt. Anti Bridgie has made a positive start over fences and is feared most ahead of Haute Estime and Onestepatatime.