15:35 Cheltenham

Saturday 13 December 2025

All12:1012:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:35

Download The BetMGM App Mares' Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:35 | Winning time: 4m 55.98s

Jubilee Alpha³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 141| BF| CD

11/4

Strong-travelling mare ended fine novice season with an impressive victory in a 10-runner listed hurdle over C&D and was unlucky not to make a winning return (bad mistake 2 out) when a length behind Sweet Caryline at Wincanton last month. Leading contender and there may be further progress to come.

Form: 31181-2

Nurse Susan⁴¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 127| CD

13/2

Won this race off 2 lb lower mark in 2023 and better than ever when making it a double at Lingfield the following January. Hasn't stood much racing since (better than result in the Martin Pipe last season) but would be a definite player if back to her best following a considerate reappearance.

Form: 711/09-9

Mermaids Cave^p²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Rian Corcoran⁽⁷⁾| T: James Owen| OR: 124| D

40/1

Prolific since joining James Owen, bagging a remarkable seventh win in a 2m claiming hurdle at Huntingdon but ran poorly with headgear off over a longer trip at Ascot (23.6f) last time. May be seen to better effect with cheekpieces refitted back down in distance but likely to find a few too good.

Form: 0-12310

Siog Geal⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: J J Burke| T: F O'Brien| OR: 123

85/40

Irish point winner/placed twice in bumpers. Signed off promising novice season with handicap debut success in a valuable race at Newbury (20.5f) and returned with encouraging third when taking on the boys/more testing ground for first time at Carlisle. Makes plenty of appeal back in mares' company.

Form: 21421-3

Pretending^p¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: Tom Cannon| T: L Wadham| OR: 119| CD

16/1

Has a good record over C&D, winning a mares' series final handicap in April 2024 and proving as good as ever when third in corresponding race on final start last season. Likely needed her comeback at Kempton last time and would be an each-way candidate if back on song in re-fitted cheekpieces.

Form: 854P3-5

Game Colours^t²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-4| J: S Bowen| T: Ben Clarke| OR: 117

13/2

Won soft ground novice hurdle at Lingfield last winter and finished season with a career-best second in a competitive 16-runner handicap at this track (16.8f). May have needed the run on reappearance (following another wind op) and remains to be seen if she can get back on track returned to 2½m.

Form: 23132-3

Sweet Caryline^t³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-3| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard| OR: 116

11/2

Arrives following a hat-trick of wins in mares' handicaps, improving to overcome a rise in grade when seeing off Jubilee Alpha (made bad mistake 2 out) at Wincanton last time. Thriving mare should be suited by this track and can go well in her bid for the 4-timer.

Form: 423-111

Lagoon Nebula^h1⁷⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-2| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: A Kinirons| OR: 113| C

25/1

Travelled well when making a successful handicap debut in a premier juvenile handicap at this track (16.8f) in April. Posted several creditable efforts in staying Flat handicaps prior to disappointing last time. More on her plate stepping into open company (2 lb out of handicap) on hurdles return.

Form: 5961-

Pismo Beach²³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: Murray Dodd⁽⁷⁾| T: S Edmunds| OR: 108| D

33/1

Finished progressive novice campaign with encouraging third behind Siog Geal at Newbury and made winning reappearance in 6-runner novice at Hexham (20.1f, good). Didn't see out her race back in a handicap (took keen hold) at Warwick last time and faces no easy task from 7 lb out of the weights.

Form: 6243-15

Non-Runners

Kingston Sunflower¹⁰

Weight: 10-8| Age: 8

T: F O'Brien J: Fern O'Brien

Forecasts

Siog Geal (85/40), Jubilee Alpha (11/4), Sweet Caryline (11/2), Nurse Susan (13/2), Game Colours (13/2), Pretending (16/1), Lagoon Nebula (25/1), Kingston Sunflower (25/1), Pismo Beach (33/1), Mermaids Cave (40/1)

An impressive winner of a mares' listed race over C&D as a novice, JUBILEE ALPHA returned better than ever when an unlucky runner-up behind fast-improving Sweet Caryline at Wincanton and may have the class to defy top-weight in a competitive handicap. Siog Geal ended her novice campaign on a high and could prove the main danger following an encouraging return, while it would be no surprise if Dan Skelton had 2023 winner Nurse Susan primed to run another big race.