February 06 / 13.25 Bangor-on-Dee

13.25

Soft

Alfa Aggregates Products Mares’ Handicap Chase (Challenger Mares’ Chase Series Qualifier) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £6337.2
  • 3m 0f 30y
  • Class 4
  • 4 runners
SKY
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Alfa Aggregates Products Mares’ Handicap Chase (Challenger Mares’ Chase Series Qualifier) (GBB Race)

Runners: 4 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Snow

Form: 225-25 D

Last run: 56 days

W: 11st 10lb

9 yo Mare

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Won at Huntingdon (2m7f, good to soft) in November 2024 and reappeared with good second at Ffos Las (3m1f, soft) in October; disappointing at Doncaster since and needs to bounce back, but she's not ruled out.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

24th Mar 2026

Good

3m 1f 185y

Class 4

14:00 Southwell

Lilting Verse

11st 13lb

J: Fern O’Brien

T: Fergal O’Brien

Hasn't been at her best of late (behind Smurfette latest) but she has the form to feature off this mark and won't mind getting back on drier ground; stays this far; possible.

4/1

4th

3

2nd Mar 2026

Heavy

3m 0f 60y

Class 4

14:45 Southwell

Lilting Verse

11st 11lb

J: Fern O’Brien

T: Fergal O’Brien

Solid record off current mark comprises a success at Huntingdon in 2024 and second-place finishes in this race last year and at Ffos Las in October; not ruled out.

13/2

7th

2

13th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 136y

Class 4

15:45 Chepstow

Lilting Verse

11st 13lb

J: Fern O’Brien

T: Fergal O’Brien

Gave good account when second on seasonal debut at Ffos Las (3m1f, soft) in October and remains on a workable mark but her latest run was disappointing and she'd arguably appeal more on better ground than is forecast.

10/1

OUR TIP

Form: 229-63 CD

Last run: 48 days

W: 11st 7lb

11 yo Mare

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
11yo who won this last year (soft) and took a step back in the right direction with 12l third at Hereford (3m1f, soft) in December in first-time cheekpieces (retained); she may be able to build on that and is one to consider.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

10

23rd Apr 2026

Good

3m 1f 100y

Class 2

15:00 Warwick

Lagonda

10st 12lb

J: Shane Quinlan

T: Venetia Williams

Blinkers are turned to after finishing tailed off a month ago and her previous thirds were no great advertisement for her prospects here; probably wants softer ground as well.

33/1

3rd

2

23rd Mar 2026

Good

3m 1f 30y

Class 4

16:22 Wincanton

Lagonda

11st 5lb

J: Shane Quinlan

T: Venetia Williams

Third in a quite valuable Hereford mares' chase (3m1f, soft; first-time cheekpieces) in December and also ran well when filling same position in Bangor marathon (3m5f, soft) last month; might not be ideally suited by the quicker ground here but still respected.

9/4

3rd

7

25th Feb 2026

Soft

3m 5f 142y

Class 4

16:00 Bangor-on-Dee

Lagonda

11st 7lb

J: Shane Quinlan

T: Venetia Williams

Third over 3m1f at Hereford last time (soft; first-time cheekpieces), making the frame in that handicap for the second successive season; consistent but perhaps doesn't win as often as she should (1-15 over fences and runner-up five times); unraced beyond about 3m1f.

12/1

Abandoned

Form: 316-P5

Last run: 46 days

W: 11st 5lb

8 yo Mare

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Bumper and handicap hurdle (2m5f, soft) winner; early days over fences and first-time cheekpieces may help, but she needs to produce considerably more than she's managed on her first two chase starts (2m7f, good to soft).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

3

26th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 3y

Class 4

16:01 Taunton

Baby Sage

11st 10lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Alan King

Bumper/hurdle winner; reportedly bled from the nose when pulled up on chase debut at Huntingdon (2m7f, good to soft) in November but was a well-held fifth on her return visit the following month; still early days in this sphere but she needs a transformation with cheekpieces added.

14/1

6th

3

5th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 5f 55y

Class 3

16:15 Ludlow

Baby Sage

11st 12lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Alan King

Five starts over hurdles, taking her form to another level when she won 11-race at Exeter (extended 2m5f, soft) two months ago in her second handicap; carried her head awkwardly before run-in and has gone up 6lb but she may well have more to give.

3/1

Form: 00-111 D

Last run: 36 days

W: 11st 2lb

8 yo Mare

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Point winner who is 3-3 over fences (3m-3m2f, good-soft); the winning distances are diminishing and the handicapper is catching up, but this progressive 8yo is still a strong contender up 6lb for Windsor last time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

6

26th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 3y

Class 4

16:01 Taunton

Fortune Dancer

11st 7lb

J: Freddie Gordon

T: Chris Gordon

Well beaten in three maiden/novice hurdles last season but she's 3-3 in chase handicaps this term including a win on soft ground on her penultimate run; 6lb higher than when making all at Windsor (3m, good) last time but she showed a good attitude to beat a clear second; open to more progress over fences; big player.

5/2

Verdict

The handicapper is catching up with FORTUNE DANCER, who had to dig much deeper at Windsor, but was clear with the runner-up that day and is taken to maintain her unbeaten record over fences. Last year’s winner Lagonda is feared most ahead of Lilting Verse.[Ben Hutton]

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Fortune Dancer

TOPSPEED:

Lagonda

RP RATINGS:

Fortune Dancer

POSTDATA:

Fortune Dancer

The Times:

Fortune Dancer

The Guardian:

Fortune Dancer

D Express:

Fortune Dancer

Daily Mirror:

Fortune Dancer

The Sun:

Fortune Dancer

Daily Record:

Fortune Dancer

Telegraph:

Lagonda

Daily Mail:

Lagonda

The Star:

Lagonda