March 02 / 13.50 Ludlow

13.50

Good

1985 Cool, Crisp Lager Mares’ Novices’ Handicap Chase (EBF Mares’ Novices’ Chase Qualifier) (GBB)

  • Prize money: £5809.1
  • 2m 4f 11y
  • Class 4
  • 7 runners
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1985 Cool, Crisp Lager Mares’ Novices’ Handicap Chase (EBF Mares’ Novices’ Chase Qualifier) (GBB)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

11/4 (Won)

  • Win: £6.50
  • Place: £2.60

Form: 2-4622

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Runner-up in both chases, the latter at Carlisle (2m5f, soft) last month; will be fine on today's faster ground and could still have potential over fences; high on the list.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

6th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 189y

Class 1

14:20 Huntingdon

La Renommee

11st 6lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole

Record of 6-16 over fences; broke her Listed duck in Doncaster contest (2m4f) most recently, taking advantage of odds-on Brides Hill's below-par show; chance of following up partly depends on whether that opponent, who beat her by 6l in this event last year, is back on song.

4/1

4th

2

6th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 189y

Class 1

14:20 Huntingdon

La Renommee

11st 6lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole

raced in second

4/1

1st

4

29th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 115y

Class 1

13:38 Doncaster

La Renommee

11st 2lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole

in touch with leaders, went second 11th, going best when not fluent 3 out, ridden to lead approaching last, kept on well run-in

5/1

15/8

  • Place: £1.70

Form: 113532 D BF

Last run: 33 days

W: 12st 0lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Came good over fences in quite valuable event at Worcester (2m4f, good) in the autumn; hasn't really kicked on from that success and was no match for clear winner when second at Uttoxeter (2m5f, good to soft) in January but will appreciate this ease in grade and is on a good mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

20th Apr 2023

Good

2m 0f 62y

Class 3

16:25 Cheltenham

Fortunes Melody

10st 6lb

J: Ben Bromley

T: Harry Fry

Usually consistent but didn't cover herself in much glory when a remote fourth at Ludlow (2m4f, good to soft) latest; sole win over fences (1-14) came on her last attempt at this sort of trip, so that may help.

9/2

4th

1

3rd Apr 2023

Soft

2m 4f 11y

Class 4

14:00 Ludlow

Fortunes Melody

12st 0lb

J: Ben Bromley

T: Harry Fry

Only 1-13 over fences but she's consistent and ran creditably behind La Renommee over C&D most recently; has form on all types of going; sole handicap win (over hurdles) came off this mark; solid chance.

11/4

2nd

1

2nd Mar 2023

Good

2m 4f 11y

Class 4

13:50 Ludlow

Fortunes Melody

12st 0lb

J: Ben Bromley

T: Harry Fry

Came good over fences in quite valuable event at Worcester (2m4f, good) in the autumn; hasn't really kicked on from that success and was no match for clear winner when second at Uttoxeter (2m5f, good to soft) in January but will appreciate this ease in grade and is on a good mark.

15/8

Form: 6-33P3 C

Last run: 8 days

W: 11st 1lb

9 yo Mare

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Very well handicapped on some of her 2021 hurdling form but has regressed, and her first three chasing attempts have all been unconvincing; not favoured by the weights when last of three over C&D last week but still has questions to answer on return to a handicap.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

9

17th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 1y

Class 5

16:20 Taunton

Cotton End

10st 10lb

J: Tabitha Worsley

T: Jackie Du Plessis

Veteran who had poor completion record in points last season and was easily brushed aside after making the running on rules return at Ludlow (2m5f, good) in November; revival needed.

33/1

6th

8

8th Jun 2024

Good

2m 4f 72y

Class 5

16:35 Bangor-on-Dee

Cotton End

10st 12lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Sheila Lewis

pressed leader

12/1

6th

5

30th May 2024

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

20:40 Warwick

Cotton End

11st 8lb

J: Finn Lambert

T: Sheila Lewis

Multiple hurdle winner at up to 2m3f; acts on a sound surface; 0-11 over fences; below par on her recent reappearance but not ruled out each-way if she comes on for that.

10/1

Form: 4U2433 D BF

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 1lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Seemed to respond well to first-time cheekpieces when placed in big-field handicap hurdle at Huntingdon (2m4f, good to soft) in January and wasn't beaten far when third of four on recent chasing debut there (2m7f, good); ought to be on the premises again here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

26th Mar 2023

Good To Soft

3m 0f 54y

Class 5

14:17 Exeter

Merry Mistress

12st 1lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: David Dennis

Not beaten far over hurdles and fences in her three runs since the cheekpieces went on, from 2m4f to 2m7f (good or good to soft); however, she looks high in the weights unless she benefits from wind surgery and a visor.

6/1

4th

7

2nd Mar 2023

Good

2m 4f 11y

Class 4

13:50 Ludlow

Merry Mistress

11st 1lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: David Dennis

Seemed to respond well to first-time cheekpieces when placed in big-field handicap hurdle at Huntingdon (2m4f, good to soft) in January and wasn't beaten far when third of four on recent chasing debut there (2m7f, good); ought to be on the premises again here.

9/2

3rd

2

9th Feb 2023

Good To Soft

2m 7f 129y

Class 4

13:15 Huntingdon

Merry Mistress

11st 6lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: David Dennis

Won three handicap hurdles last season (1m7f-2m3f, good/soft) and returned to form in first-time cheekpieces to finish third of 17 over 2m4f here 13 days ago; has stamina to prove over this longer trip but should make a chaser.

5/1

Form: 45-74P

Last run: 31 days

W: 11st 9lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Three-time hurdle winner; behind Fortunes Melody when modest fourth on chasing debut at Wincanton (2m4f, good to soft) on Boxing Day and was pulled up at Hereford in January; comes here with a point to prove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

8

11th Nov 2023

Soft

2m 4f 35y

Class 3

13:15 Wincanton

Volkovka

11st 3lb

J: Liam Harrison

T: Fergal O’Brien

Three-time hurdle winner; not an instant success over fences last season but seemed to be getting her act together when close/clear second to a course specialist at Ludlow (2m4f, good to soft) in April and has possibilities here if fully tuned up.

7/1

2nd

3

3rd Apr 2023

Soft

2m 4f 11y

Class 4

14:00 Ludlow

Volkovka

11st 7lb

J: Liam Harrison

T: Fergal O’Brien

Well handicapped on best hurdles form, including a win off 6lb higher; however, finished behind a few of these rivals here last month (third chase attempt) and still has something to prove over fences.

12/1

5th

2

2nd Mar 2023

Good

2m 4f 11y

Class 4

13:50 Ludlow

Volkovka

11st 9lb

J: Liam Harrison

T: Fergal O’Brien

Three-time hurdle winner; behind Fortunes Melody when modest fourth on chasing debut at Wincanton (2m4f, good to soft) on Boxing Day and was pulled up at Hereford in January; comes here with a point to prove.

8/1

OUR TIP

Form: 5/643/ D

Last run: 732 days

W: 11st 4lb

9 yo Mare

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Dual hurdle winner in 2019-20 season; disappointed on chasing debut in November 2020 and absent since third over hurdles in February 2021; not an easy mare to weigh up but has been given a chance by the handicapper.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10

7th Apr 2024

Heavy

3m 0f 54y

Class 5

16:45 Exeter

Penny Mallow

10st 9lb

J: Ned Fox

T: Venetia Williams

Regressive mare who has been out of form this season and is now 0-8 over fences; difficult to enthuse over.

25/1

10

7th Apr 2024

Heavy

3m 0f 54y

Class 5

16:45 Exeter

Penny Mallow

10st 9lb

J: Ned Fox

T: Venetia Williams

Regressive mare who has been out of form this season and is now 0-8 over fences; difficult to enthuse over.

25/1

8th

5

26th Mar 2024

Good To Soft

2m 5f 150y

Class 5

16:50 Taunton

Penny Mallow

11st 3lb

J: Ned Fox

T: Venetia Williams

Bumper and dual hurdle winner; 0-7 over fences and jumping lacked fluency when a tailed-off third last time (2m4f, heavy), with that on the back of a fall; stable having plenty of winners but this mare needs to pull her socks up.

8/1

Form: 133/ D

Last run: 678 days

W: 11st 4lb

8 yo Mare

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Very unexposed 8yo who won a point and a maiden hurdle (2m4f, good) in 2020; absent since below-par hurdle run for Nicky Henderson in April 2021 but market support will make her of interest before today's stable/chase/handicap debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

4th Apr 2023

Heavy

2m 1f 165y

Class 4

14:30 Fontwell

Ballingers Corner

12st 0lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

prominent, lost ground after 7th, soon dropped to last, not fluent 8th, pushed along and got behind after 9th

7/4

7th

4

2nd Mar 2023

Good

2m 4f 11y

Class 4

13:50 Ludlow

Ballingers Corner

11st 4lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Very unexposed 8yo who won a point and a maiden hurdle (2m4f, good) in 2020; absent since below-par hurdle run for Nicky Henderson in April 2021 but market support will make her of interest before today's stable/chase/handicap debut.

13/2

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £18.90
Straight Forecast £22.93
Trifecta £149.80

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Fortunes Melody

The Star:

La Renommee

D Express:

Ballingers Corner

The Guardian:

Penny Mallow

Daily Record:

La Renommee

RP Ratings:

Fortunes Melody

TOPSPEED:

Fortunes Melody

POSTDATA:

Fortunes Melody

WEST COUNTRY:

Fortunes Melody

The Times:

Fortunes Melody

Telegraph:

Fortunes Melody

Daily Mail:

Fortunes Melody

Daily Mirror:

Fortunes Melody

The Sun:

Fortunes Melody