Oxenwood Real Estate Mares' Novices' Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:15 | Winning time: 6m 8.75s

Settings

Selected odds by:

Shirocco's Dream^t⁹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard| OR: 107| D

9/4

£260,000 purchase who scored twice over hurdles last season but was below form after 7 months off at Exeter (21.6f, good to soft) in November, helping the winner force the pace but lacking race fitness. A point winner so no surprise should she feature on chase debut.

Form: 16733-0

Merry Mistress^p¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: David Dennis| OR: 107

9/4

Quickly back to form when third in a big-field handicap at this track just under a fortnight ago, keeping on run-in having been outpaced approaching 2 out. Clearly talented but was again reluctant at the start last time so not for maximum faith on chase debut.

Form: 7-4U243

Do You Think⁶⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 104

11/4

Upped her game when winning 5-runner handicap on chase debut at Hereford (25.2f) in November but struggled from an 8 lb higher mark at Fontwell (26f) a month later, rather found wanting in the latter stages. Drop back in trip a positive and fancied to make her experience tell.

Form: 443-313

Moonamacaroona^t,v1⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 103

4/1

Winner of 2 of her 3 starts in bumpers but yet to get her head in front over hurdles after 9 attempts, finding things too competitive at Taunton (23.9f, good to soft) just under 6 weeks ago. Visor applied and she's a player if taking to fences at the first time of asking.

Form: 2552-5P

Forecasts

Shirocco's Dream (9/4), Merry Mistress (9/4), Do You Think (11/4), Moonamacaroona (4/1)

Impossible to rule out any of the quartet but DO YOU THINK is fancied to put her chasing experience to good use and notch a second success over the larger obstacles. Moonamacaroona shades the vote over Merry Mistress for the forecast position.