15:35 Cheltenham

Saturday 14 December 2024

All12:1012:4013:1313:5014:2515:0015:35

BetMGM Mares' Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:35 | Winning time: 5m 8.05s

Take No Chances¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 137| D

9/2

Useful mare who bagged a 2m Wetherby listed race at the beginning of November. Found the Grade 1 Fighting Fifth at Newcastle too hot for her a fortnight ago but she's much respected back in a handicap. Yard won the race last year.

Form: 1-14315

Sweet Fantasy^h1⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: H Cobden| T: James Owen| OR: 130

28/1

Useful Flat performer who won pair of 2m mares' novice hurdles earlier in year. Too fresh back from a break when 21¼ lengths fourth to Take No Chances in Wetherby listed back hurdling 6 weeks ago. Fitted with a hood now going up in trip. Her mark demands improvement but no shock were she to find it.

Form: 11-4

Wodhooh³²²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Danny Gilligan⁽³⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 130

10/1

5-5 in juvenile hurdles for Gordon Elliott last season, including fillies' listed events at Newbury and Doncaster. Not seen for 10 months but still much respected now stepping up in trip for her handicap debut.

Form: 11111-

Georgi Girl²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Ben Jones| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 129

17/2

Back on the up with a 21f Warwick handicap success on reappearance 23 days ago, seeing off The Lord Maid by 2¾ lengths with Masked Dance back in third. Should remain very competitive up 5 lb.

Form: 21106-1

Lunar Discovery⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Charlotte Jones| T: James Moffatt| OR: 124

66/1

Dual bumper winner who also won a pair of novice hurdles last season. Ran up to the pick of her hurdles form when 12¾ lengths fifth of 6 in Carlisle listed chase on reappearance. Makes handicap debut back hurdling.

Form: 1122P-5

Holly¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 122

33/1

Fairly useful hurdler. Has run below that level over fences in recent months but feasibly treated back over the smaller obstacles having finished a close second off this mark at Plumpton last spring.

Form: 420-462

Pretending³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: G Sheehan| T: L Wadham| OR: 122| BF| CD

7/2

Ended last season with win in big field over C&D in April and improved again to score on her 2½m Uttoxeter reappearance in October. Possibly went for home a bit too soon (also bad mistake 2 out) when fifth at Wincanton last month and that defeat shouldn't be taken to suggest this mark is beyond her.

Form: 3221-15

Endless Escape^p,t⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Harry Kimber| T: Ben Clarke| OR: 121| D

11/1

Four-time hurdle winner who underwhelmed over fences at the start of last season but back on track with trio of placed efforts in handicap hurdles in the spring. Went without her usual cheekpieces and tongue tie when a respectable fifth on Ascot reappearance and the headgear is back in place now.

Form: 42223-5

Royale Margaux^t²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Benjamin Poste| T: T Symonds| OR: 120

12/1

Prolific in France but 0-12 for this yard. However, her latest second of 8 in a 3m Ascot handicap hurdle was creditable and her stable continues in form.

Form: 543-472

Joyeuse²²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 119

5/2

A half-sister to Champion Hurdle winner Epatante who a French bumper and 16.5f Taunton maiden hurdle on her first 2 starts. Met with defeat for the first time on 2m Ascot reappearance 3 weeks ago but still shaped nicely in third and very much unexposed now handicapping up in trip.

Form: 1/1-3

Masked Dance²³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Mrs M Rowley| OR: 116| D

28/1

Second handicap success when seeing off 13 rivals at Aintree (2½m) in May. Only a respectable 10¾ lengths third to Georgi Girl at Warwick (21f, soft) 6 months later but she's entitled to come on for the outing.

Form: 21P4-13

Molto Bene^t²²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: Lily Pinchin| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 116

10/1

Improved again when making it 2-3 in handicaps when seeing off 16 rivals on her 19.5f Chepstow reappearance 3 weeks ago, holding on in determined fashion. Further progress can't be discounted.

Form: 5P313-1

Non-Runners

Greyval³⁵

Weight: 10-5| Age: 5

T: F O'Brien J: J J Burke

Forecasts

Joyeuse (5/2), Pretending (7/2), Take No Chances (9/2), Georgi Girl (17/2), Wodhooh (10/1), Molto Bene (10/1), Endless Escape (11/1), Royale Margaux (12/1), Greyval (12/1), Sweet Fantasy (28/1), Masked Dance (28/1), Holly (33/1), Lunar Discovery (66/1)

Although the Fighting Fifth was too much for TAKE NO CHANCES she's flourished in general over hurdles in the last year or so and can make light of top weight back in a handicap. Unexposed Nicky Henderson handicap debutante Joyeuse is a potentially dangerous opponent, while C&D scorer Pretending shaped better than the result at Wincanton last time and trainer Lucy Wadham has a good recent record in this race.