15:32 Chepstow

Saturday 13 April 2024

All12:4013:1013:4014:1514:5015:3215:3516:40

Bet 20 Get 20 With DragonBet Mares' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:32 | Winning time: 6m 4.53s

Lady Balko²³

Age: 5| Weight: 12-2| J: David Noonan| T: D Pipe| OR: 112| BF| D

9/4

Improved since handicapping and completed a quick-fire hat-trick in ready style at Taunton in March. Another likeable display when second at this course last time and step back up trip should suit. Worth a chance to resume winning ways.

Form: 421112

Tequila Blaze¹⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 12-1| J: Tom Broughton⁽⁵⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 111| D

6/1

Fair handicap hurdler who stepped up markedly on her reappearance run to capitalise on a falling mark at Southwell (24.3f, soft) in February. Creditable effort but seemed undone by a rise when fifth at Wincanton next time.

Form: 076-715

Melusine De Pail¹⁰⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: Alice Stevens⁽⁵⁾| T: Noel Williams| OR: 109| D

15/2

Point winner who has shaped encouragingly when placed on each of her three hurdling outings. Handicapper hasn't gone overboard with opening mark and longer trip could help, so one to consider.

Form: 5F1-322

Cast's Tasha^t³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Joe Anderson⁽⁵⁾| T: Ben Clarke| OR: 106| C

15/2

Began the campaign in fine form over hurdles and value for extra when landing cramped odds on chase debut at Ffos Las in February. Tame display at Exeter next time but not fully dismissed back over hurdles.

Form: 1-3221P

Pipers Cross^p³³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: Liam Harrison| T: R L Llewellyn| OR: 92| BF

3/1

Stayed on well to open her hurdles account in handicap at Huntingdon (25f, heavy) in March and backed it up with a creditable second at Stratford last time. Another bold showing looks assured.

Form: 322213

Houston Calling^p³³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: Lee Edwards| T: Mrs M Rowley| OR: 87

6/1

17/2, left previous efforts behind when second of 7 in handicap hurdle at Stratford (22f, heavy) 33 days ago. Still relatively unexposed and could do better still, so worthy of consideration.

Form: 36-4962

Elfride^t³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: Harry Atkins⁽⁷⁾| T: R T Phillips| OR: 72

22/1

Improved to win a 23f Uttoxeter handicap last spring but it's all been rather inauspicious since and she's set for another struggle from out of the weights.

Form: 1U4F5P

Non-Runners

Molto Bene²⁶

Weight: 11-12| Age: 5

T: C E Longsdon J: Elizabeth Gale

Forecasts

Lady Balko (9/4), Pipers Cross (3/1), Tequila Blaze (6/1), Houston Calling (6/1), Molto Bene (6/1), Melusine De Pail (15/2), Cast's Tasha (15/2), Elfride (22/1)

LADY BALKO boasts a highly progressive profile and is worth a chance to get back to winning ways having posted another good effort over a shorter trip at this course last time. Pipers Cross is another likeable mare with solid claims and Melusine de Pail is an interesting handicap debutante.