14:40 Cheltenham

Thursday 20 April 2023

All13:3014:0514:4015:1515:5016:2517:00

Catesby Estates Mares' Novices' Hurdle (Listed Race) (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:40 | Winning time: 4m 59.93s

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Selected odds by:

Ilovethenightlife²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard| OR: 125

9/2

Scopey sort who raised her game switched to a handicap when winning 15-runner event (Grade 2) at Newbury (20.5f, soft) 26 days ago, drawing clear late on. Shoulders a 3 lb penalty for that but still warrants respect in hat-trick bid.

Form: 153U11

Ahorsewithnoname³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 129

7/2

Useful performer on the Flat who is still a maiden over hurdles following 8 attempts, but has posted some good efforts, including when second in the Dawn Run at the 2022 Cheltenham Festival. Never better than mid-field in latest renewal of that corresponding event and now upped in trip.

Form: 2232-P0

Deeply Superficial^t²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: S Bowen| T: G Elliott| OR: 130

6/4

Point winner who doubled her hurdles tally back in calmer waters in 6-runner minor event at Limerick (16.2f, soft) 25 days ago, pushed out. Not taken lightly back up in trip/grade.

Form: 1-1431

I Spy A Diva¹¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 120

16/1

Suffered a few near misses over hurdles last season but has more than made up for that this time round, making it 3 in a row when edging out a last-time-out winner from the Nicholls yard at Taunton (3m) in November. Proved too free in a stronger race (handicap) at Kempton when last seen, though.

Form: 32-1116

Lilting Verse¹³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: C Brace| T: F O'Brien

50/1

Placed both starts in Irish points and off the mark at the third attempt in bumpers in 8-runner listed event at Huntingdon (15.8f) in December. Bred to be suited by this longer trip now hurdling but this is a tough starting point.

Form: 32-341

Lutinebella³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 123

13/2

Fairly useful in bumpers and quickened clear in good style when opening hurdles account at the second attempt at Exeter (18.5f) in November. Shade disappointing in a Taunton listed event before resuming winning ways in fine style in 5-runner novice at Plumpton (20.5f). Respected back up in grade.

Form: 13-3141

Spring Note⁴⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Paul O'Brien| T: N J Henderson| OR: 112

22/1

Bumper winner who left previous hurdles efforts behind to make a successful handicap debut at Newbury (18.8f) last month, but that wasn't much of a race and a lot more on her plate now.

Form: 1221

Zestful^h³³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-6| J: B S Hughes| T: M Keighley| OR: 120

11/1

Fair performer on the level (stays 1¾m) who has already surpassed that form over hurdles, making it 2 from 2 in 6-runner novice at Kempton (16f, heavy) 33 days ago, well on top finish. That race fell apart to a certain extent, but she's made a good start and is open to further improvement.

Form: 11

Non-Runners

Queens Rock⁷⁰

Weight: 11-2| Age: 6

T: N J Henderson J: N de Boinville

Forecasts

Deeply Superficial (6/4), Ahorsewithnoname (7/2), Queens Rock (7/2), Ilovethenightlife (9/2), Lutinebella (13/2), Zestful (11/1), I Spy A Diva (16/1), Spring Note (22/1), Lilting Verse (50/1)

QUEENS ROCK has been kept fresh for this since making a mockery of her opening mark at Doncaster (19.4f) in early February, which can't be a bad thing, especially at this stage of the season, so she looks to have a fair bit going for her. Deeply Superficial and Lutinebella head the dangers.