Weatherbys Cheltenham Festival Betting Guide Jane Seymour Mares' Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:30 | Winning time: 5m 13.9s

Aston Martini²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: James Bowen| T: N J Henderson| OR: 122| D

9/2

Defends an unbeaten 3-3 record. Did get demoted to second on the day at Lingfield last month but was reinstated on appeal. Open to further progress but does have concede 3 lb all round and de Boinville seemingly prefers Either Or.

Form: 111

Cherie D'am⁵¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 123| D

2/1

Point winner who took her Rules record to 3-4 when seeing off 8 rivals in 2½m Aintree handicap hurdle (heavy) on Boxing Day. Has given the odd hint of temperament (hung and flashed tail at Aintree) but deep ground won't hold any fears for her and she has the form to go close.

Form: 11-121

Either Or²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson

6/1

Winning pointer in Ireland who built on a promising Warwick bumper second when making a successful start to her hurdle career there (19f, heavy) last month. Almost certainly more to come and de Boinville on her rather than Aston Martini.

Form: 8F41-21

Jeune Belle²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Bryony Frost| T: L Wadham

40/1

Useful bumper winner who landed short odds on her 2m Lingfield hurdle debut in December. Never going after a bad mistake at the first in the race won by Aston Martini back at Lingfield last month and was subsequently found to have bled. Up in trip now.

Form: 34-121P

Little Miss Dante⁵⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 122| BF

10/3

Southwell bumper winner who landed won 2m novices at Ayr and Uttoxeter on her first 2 outings over hurdles. Not seen to best effect when 6 lengths third in 19f Haydock listed novice since, staying on after getting outpaced. Remains capable of better.

Form: 21-113

Smiling Getaway²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 118

6/1

Winning Irish pointer who shaped well when fourth in a Southwell bumper on sole run for Dan Skelton and has built on that when winning mares' novice hurdles at Ludlow (21f, soft) and Warwick (19f, heavy) for her new stable in recent months. Another in this line-up who looks capable of even better.

Form: 1/4-11

Springtime Promise²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: C Brace| T: F O'Brien| OR: 118| D

11/1

No significant impact in 3 outings under Rules in Ireland but she landed 2 points there in the autumn and has continued the winning habit over hurdles for new connections, taking mares' novices around 2½m at Huntingdon and Sedgefield. This demands more but still dangerous to discount.

Form: 7/51111

Forecasts

Cherie D'am (2/1), Little Miss Dante (10/3), Aston Martini (9/2), Smiling Getaway (6/1), Either Or (6/1), Springtime Promise (11/1), Jeune Belle (40/1)

CHERIE D'AM coped very well with testing conditions at Aintree over Christmas and might be the way to go in this Grade 2 mares' novice. Nicky Henderson pair Either Or (the mount of Nico de Boinville) and Aston Martini head the dangers in a contest where a case can be made for the majority of runners.