Racecards
15:40 Cheltenham
Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle (Registered As The David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle) (Grade 1) (GBB Race) (Class 1)
- 10 Runners
- Distance: 2m 3f 200y
- Going: Soft (Good to Soft in places)
- Surface: Turf
- £90,000 added
- Winner: £50,643
- 2nd: £19,080
- 3rd: £9,549
- 4th: £4,770
- Form 122-331
- Age 7
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 148
- Trainer Mrs D Foster
- Jockey Jack Kennedy
held up towards rear, headway 3 out, not much room and switched left after 2 out, reached at last and went 2nd, driven and stayed on well flat, led last strides
- Form 4331-11
- Age 7
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 153
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey Paul Townend
held up in mid-division, headway after 7th, mistake and went 2nd 2 out, led before not fluent last, driven flat, headed last strides
- Form 1/511-1U
- Age 8
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 148
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey Aidan Coleman
held up in mid-division on inside, not fluent 3rd, outpaced 3 out, well beaten from 2 out
- Form 129-142
- Age 6
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 143
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey N de Boinville
led until 1st, led next, headed before 5th, lost 2nd 7th, losing place when short of room after 2 out, well beaten after
- Form 3083-17
- Age 7
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 147
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey D E Mullins
raced keenly, led 1st, headed next, with leader, led before 5th, hit next, headed approaching 3 out, weakened after next
- Form 2311-36
- Age 8
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 149
- Trainer P R Webber
- Jockey Rex Dingle
chased leaders, slow 7th, improved to hold every chance 2 out, 4th and held last, kept on
- Form 110-222
- Age 7
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 143
- Trainer H De Bromhead
- Jockey Rachael Blackmore
held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, outpaced after next, soon weakened
- Form FB-2214
- Age 7
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 144
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey B J Cooper
held up in rear, not fluent 4th, stumbled slightly after 7th, closed on outside after 3 out, 5th and not pace of leaders when switched left before last, well held flat
- Form 524-131
- Age 9
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 153
- Trainer D Skelton
- Jockey Harry Skelton
chased leaders, not fluent 4th or 6th, went 2nd 7th, led before 3 out, ridden and headed approaching last, 3rd and unable to quicken flat, kept on
- Form 16-521P
- Age 7
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 136
held up in rear, not fluent 1st, outpaced after 7th, jumped left and behind 3 out
- Form 2/132-23
- Age 6
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 135
- Trainer F O'Brien
- Jockey P J Brennan
NonRunner
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
Dame De Compagnie and Indefatigable were both winners in handicap company at The Festival last year but the former hasn’t run over hurdles since and the latter has struggled this season and has had wind surgery since last seen. Successful in the Grade 2 Dawn Run here last year, Concertista is running in this grade for the first time but she’s 2-2 this term and has twice beaten Minella Melody with something to spare. Black Tears and My Sister Sarah were well behind her at Leopardstown in December so look held. ROKSANA was a fortunate winner of this in 2019 and only fourth last year. She is probably better over 3m but will be staying on strongly again in the closing stages and will expose any flaws in the make-up of the likely short-priced favourite. Great White Shark is a cracking dual-purpose handicapper but tends to come up short at this level while Floressa looks held on the form book and will have stamina to prove.
Formwatch
Black Tears 2-5fav (10-13) Tracked leaders, slight mistake 7th, closed up next, 2nd approaching 2 out travelling smoothly, led approaching last, soon asserted and stayed on well, comfortably, won at Punchestown 2m 4f (1) sft in Mar beating The Getaway Star (10-13) by 5l, 5 ran.
Concertista (FR) 4-5fav (11-9) Raced off pace in 5th, took closer order before 3rd, moderate 5th 4 out, progress to moderate 3rd before 3 out, headway 2 out, led narrowly before last, ridden and ran on strongly run-in, won at Leopardstown 2m 4f (1) sft in Dec beating Minella Melody (11-7) by 6 1/2l, 7 ran.
Dame De Compagnie (FR) 15-2 (10-11) Tracked leaders, pushed along before 11th (water), dropped to last pair when badly hampered by faller and unseated rider 12th, at Sandown 2m 4f (1) hvy in Feb.
Floressa (FR) 2-1fav (11-4) Tracked leader, led before 3 out, flattened 3 out, joined next, ridden and headed before last, stayed on same pace run-in, no chance with easy winner, 2nd of 6, 4 1/4l behind Miranda (11-0) at Doncaster 2m 1f (1) sft in Jan.
Great White Shark (FR) 2-1fav (10-12) Mid-division, ridden and lost place after 3 out, no extra before 2 out where slight mistake, weakened, 7th of 10, dist behind Sams Profile (11-5) at Gowran Park 3m (1) hvy in Jan.
Indefatigable (IRE) 11-1 (10-11) Chased leaders out wide, went 2nd before 5th, every chance 3 out until pushed along and weakened on long run before next, 6th of 7, 36 1/4l behind Mcfabulous (11-3) at Kempton 2m 5f (1) sft in Jan.
Minella Melody (IRE) 17-2 (11-7) Led, pressed at 6th, increased advantage after 3 out, reduced advantage 2 out, headed before last, ridden and kept on same pace, no chance with winner, 2nd of 7, 6 1/2l behind Concertista (11-9) at Leopardstown 2m 4f (1) sft in Dec.
My Sister Sarah (IRE) 11-2 (11-1) Tracked leader in clear 2nd, challenged leader at 6th, closed 2 out, dropped to 4th and weakened before last, 4th of 7, 23 1/2l behind Concertista (11-9) at Leopardstown 2m 4f (1) sft in Dec.
Roksana (IRE) 8-15fav (11-6) Held up in 4th, closed 4 out, went 2nd on bit after 2 out, challenged last, soon led, cruised clear, won at Ascot 3m (1) sft in Jan beating Magic Of Light (11-6) by 8l, 4 ran.
Whitehotchillifili (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) Towards rear, ridden in rear after 7th, weakened before 4 out and lost touch, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, at Warwick 2m 5f lst (1) hvy in Feb.
Dolcita (FR) 16-1 (11-0) In rear, headway when awkward 4 out, ridden after 3 out, stayed on under pressure from last, 3rd of 6, 20 3/4l behind Molly Ollys Wishes (11-0) at Warwick 2m 5f lst (1) hvy in Feb.