Alfa Aggregates Products Mares' Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

5YO plus | Class 4 | 3m 30y | 4 Runners | Turf

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Fern O'Brien⁽⁵⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 114| D

Resumed from 6 months off/breathing surgery with a good second at Ffos Las in October but she's not straightforward and disappointed at Doncaster 8 weeks ago.

Form: 5225-25

Lagonda^p⁴⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 11-7| J: Shane Quinlan⁽³⁾| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 111| CD

Point/hurdles winner who gained reward for her consistency when recording first chase success in this corresponding event 12 months ago. All the fitter for her comeback when third of 10 at Hereford (25.2f, soft) 7 weeks ago and no surprise to see her involved despite her advancing years.

Form: 1229-63

Baby Sage^p1⁴⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: A King| OR: 109

Successful in novice handicap hurdle at Exeter (21.5f) last season but increasingly looks one to oppose having bled on chasing debut/return before producing a laboured effort back at Huntingdon (23.6f, soft) in December. Cheekpieces applied but hard to warm to.

Form: 3/316-P5

Fortune Dancer³⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Freddie Gordon| T: C Gordon| OR: 106| D

Hasn't looked back since being switched to the larger obstacles, completing the hat-trick in a weak event at Windsor (24.3f, good) 5 weeks ago. Open to further improvement, she's fancied to maintain her unbeaten record over fences.

Form: 900-111

Forecasts

Fortune Dancer (11/10), Lagonda (5/2), Baby Sage (9/2), Lilting Verse (6/1)

FORTUNE DANCER wasn't overly extended to stretch her unbeaten record over fences to 3 at Windsor last month and, with further improvement on the cards, Chris Gordon's 8-y-o is a confident selection to go in again. Last year's winner Lagonda returned to form at Hereford before Christmas, so she gets the nod for the forecast spot.