17:00 Wetherby

Wednesday 26 February 2025

All13:4514:1514:4515:1815:5316:2817:00

Racing TV For The Cheltenham Festival Mares' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 17:02 | Winning time: 5m 16.2s

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Selected odds by:

Hard As Nails²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Fern O'Brien⁽⁷⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 112

11/4

Progressed a bit to make a successful handicap debut after 3 months off at Stratford (18.5f, good to soft) in October. Stretched by 2½m on deep ground at Sandown next time and quickly back to form when second at Newcastle (17f, good to soft) since.

Form: 123142

Rockola Vogue⁹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: G Sheehan| T: D Killahena & G McPherson| OR: 110| D

3/1

Won a Worcester bumper and 2½m Hexham maiden hurdle in the first half of the season. Creditable second of 8 in 2m course novice in November and likely improver now stepping back up in trip for handicap debut after 3 months off. Interesting.

Form: 331312

Could Be Trouble^b,t⁸⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-11| J: William Maggs⁽⁵⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 109| D

25/1

Returned to winning ways at Hexham (2½m) in October and also posted a good third of 10 in handicap at Musselburgh (2½m again) when last seen in November. Claims if fully primed after 3 months off.

Form: 658143

Lady In The Park³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 109| CD

6/1

C&D novice winner last season and runner-up 3 times in handicap hurdles since, including at Haydock (3m) at the end of December. Latest Ayr fifth (3m again) was no better than respectable, though. Back down in trip.

Form: 5-4U525

Lexie's Moon⁹²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: K Brogan| T: L Horsfall| OR: 107

9/1

Resumed progress with win in 6-runner handicap hurdle at Stratford (2m, heavy) on reappearance in October but not in anything like the same form when a remote third at Southwell (20.5f) the following month. Freshened up since.

Form: 514P-13

Our Bill's Aunt^t²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: Mr Toby McCain-Mitchell⁽⁷⁾| T: A M Hales| OR: 106| D

6/1

Won conditional jockeys' handicap at Leicester (20.5f, heavy) under Toby McCain-Mitchell last month. Not in quite the same form (beaten 12 lengths into second) when turned out unpenalised at Wincanton 9 days later but still respected here despite running off 6 lb higher now.

Form: 6-23312

Chosen Hero^p²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Miss Brodie Hampson⁽³⁾| T: A Watson| OR: 105| C

33/1

2m novice hurdle winner on heavy last winter and matched that form when third in Sedgefield handicap hurdle on reappearance. Hasn't taken to fences since but may fare better now back over the smaller obstacles.

Form: P3-3P6P

Wednesday Addams^p1,t¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: J M Quinlan| T: B I Case| OR: 101

11/1

Fairly useful in bumpers. Yet to match that form over hurdles but latest third in a Lingfield maiden was a step back in the right direction and now switches her attention to handicaps for the first time with first-time cheekpieces added to her usual tongue tie.

Form: 40-2673

Isabel De Clare²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Joshua Thompson⁽⁷⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 100

18/1

Modest form in bumpers/maiden hurdles. Handicaps provide her with a more realistic chance but her opening mark isn't obviously generous.

Form: 5-6546

Magnolia^t⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: C O'Farrell| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 100

16/1

Fair hurdler/chaser at best in France. Better effort in Britain when 12 lengths fifth of 11 at Newcastle (2m, good to soft) 6 weeks ago but will need to step forward again to get heavily involved here.

Form: 55-8965

Forecasts

Hard As Nails (11/4), Rockola Vogue (3/1), Our Bill's Aunt (6/1), Lady In The Park (6/1), Lexie's Moon (9/1), Wednesday Addams (11/1), Magnolia (16/1), Isabel De Clare (18/1), Could Be Trouble (25/1), Chosen Hero (33/1)

ROCKOLA VOGUE is the one in this line-up who should have more offer and can make a successful start to her handicap career. Our Bill's Aunt has struck up a decent partnership with Toby McCain-Mitchell in recent weeks and is second choice ahead of Fergal O'Brien's Hard As Nails.