Racing TV For The Cheltenham Festival Mares' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:45 | Winning time: 5m 11.01s

La Marquise^p¹⁰⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 12-2| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 112WS

11/1

Dual bumper winner who looked a good prospect when overcoming inexperience to make a successful hurdling debut at Ludlow (2m) in October 2024. Hasn't kicked on since, though, only fourth of 6 in handicap hurdle at Market Rasen (18.6f, good to soft) 105 days ago.

Form: 13/18-54

Northern Symphonie⁸²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Miss Megan Bevan⁽⁷⁾| T: H Dickin| OR: 106

40/1

Completed a hat-trick of small-field handicap wins in the spring and even better form when second of 3 at Uttoxeter (23.3f) in June. However, offered little on debut for new yard at Sandown in December.

Form: 711-12P

Devon Skies²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Joe Williamson| T: P A Kirby| OR: 106| D

5/1

Has proved a different proposition switched to front-running tactics, completing hat-trick at Market Rasen in November. Quickly bounced back from rare disappointing effort when winning 7-runner handicap hurdle (18/5) at Catterick (19.3f, soft) 27 days ago. Player again despite 15 lb rise.

Form: P111P1

Just Call Me Lucy³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: M Walford| OR: 104| CD

11/8

Goes well here and was runner-up behind a progressive rival at C&D in November. Disappointing when only fifth of 7 in handicap hurdle at Newcastle (20.3f, heavy) 30 days ago but better showing expected returned to Wetherby.

Form: 12P-425

Queenofthejukebox^t²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: S Bowen| T: Noel Williams| OR: 102| C

2/1

Dual soft-ground bumper winner last season but yet to match that form over hurdles, though there was a bit more promise on her first start after a wind-op when seventh of 16 in novice hurdle (10/1) at Kempton (16f, soft) 24 days ago and she's interesting now handicapping.

Form: 151-4P7

Laysoft³³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-5| J: Danny McMenamin| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 101

15/2

Landed junior bumper at Huntingdon in November and has finished placed all 3 starts over hurdles, albeit out of her depth when remote third in a fillies' listed juvenile event at Doncaster last month. Not ruled out receiving plenty of weight from her elders on handicap bow.

Form: 51323

Non-Runners

Parisian Fashion⁵⁹

Weight: 11-6| Age: 7

T: R Menzies J: William Maggs

Forecasts

Just Call Me Lucy (11/8), Queenofthejukebox (2/1), Devon Skies (5/1), Laysoft (15/2), La Marquise (11/1), Parisian Fashion (14/1), Northern Symphonie (40/1)

DEVON SKIES has been a revelation for the Phil Kirby yard this winter and she can defy the handicapper again to make it 5 wins from 6 her last starts. Queenofthejukebox starts life in handicaps from a very workable mark based on her bumper form and there was more to like about her Kempton run last time, so is also shortlisted alongside fellow handicap debutante Laysoft.