February 15 / 14.30 Sandown

14.30

Soft

Weatherbys Cheltenham Festival Betting Guide Jane Seymour Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) (GBB)

  • Prize money: £28475
  • 2m 3f 173y
  • Class 1
  • 7 runners
RTV
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Weatherbys Cheltenham Festival Betting Guide Jane Seymour Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) (GBB)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

12/1 (Won)

  • Win: £13.40
  • Place: £4.60

Form: /7/511 D

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Won two Irish points in October (3m, soft/soft to heavy) and left her previous form under rules well behind her when she also scored last month in 2m4f novice hurdles at Huntingdon (good to soft) and Sedgefield (soft); this company demands more but she is very much going the right way.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

24th May 2025

Good

3m 1f 83y

Class 3

17:05 Cartmel

Springtime Promise

12st 2lb

J: Fern O’Brien

T: Fergal O’Brien

Won Grade 2 novice hurdle in February 2024 (2m4f, soft) but chasing didn't go to plan during light campaign last season and she was well beaten when upped to 3m1f for hurdle return in January; this race is much easier but she's not yet proven on good ground and her current ability is hard to gauge; had wind op in February.

8/1

1st

1

24th May 2025

Good

3m 1f 83y

Class 3

17:05 Cartmel

Springtime Promise

12st 2lb

J: Fern O’Brien

T: Fergal O’Brien

Won Grade 2 novice hurdle in February 2024 (2m4f, soft) but chasing didn't go to plan during light campaign last season and she was well beaten when upped to 3m1f for hurdle return in January; this race is much easier but she's not yet proven on good ground and her current ability is hard to gauge; had wind op in February.

8/1

8th

5

23rd Jan 2025

Good To Soft

3m 1f 10y

Class 2

14:30 Huntingdon

Springtime Promise

11st 1lb

J: Connor Brace

T: Fergal O’Brien

towards rear, headway into midfield with one circuit to go, not fluent 9th, outpaced after 3 out, weakened approaching last

12/1

OUR TIP

7/2

  • Place: £1.60

Form: 1-121 D

Last run: 51 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 123

Form & Verdict
Point/bumper winner and 2-3 over hurdles, all on soft; 6-4 favourite and in charge from two out in a nine-runner handicap at Aintree (2m4f) on Boxing Day latest; narrowly the form pick and improved form every time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

11th Jan 2025

Soft

2m 3f 83y

Class 1

13:15 Ffos Las

Cherie DAm

11st 2lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Useful mare who completed the full jumps set with her commanding performance in Listed novice event at Warwick (2m4f, good to soft; second chase attempt) last month, adding to her point, bumper and hurdle wins; acts on soft; major contender even with 5lb penalty back against males.

9/4

9

11th Jan 2025

Soft

2m 3f 83y

Class 1

13:15 Ffos Las

Cherie DAm

11st 2lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

prominent

9/4

1st

1

12th Dec 2024

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 1

13:55 Warwick

Cherie DAm

11st 0lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Ran well in defeat in Graded novice hurdles on final two starts last season (2m4f/3m, soft) and reappeared with respectable third of three against males on chase debut at Carlisle (2m4f, good to soft) in October; the return to a left-handed track could suit and she's one to consider.

13/2

Form: 4-11 D

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Made all to win by 10l in an Irish point in October 2021; two lengthy layoffs since but her career has been firmly back on track this winter with her novice wins on soft at Ludlow (2m5f) and Warwick (2m3f); the latter was by 8l, so she too could have a major say.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

5

15th Jan 2025

Soft

2m 7f 86y

Class 1

15:35 Newbury

Smiling Getaway

11st 2lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

raced in last but in touch with leaders, headway 4 out, soon went fourth, weakened run-in

10/1

4th

5

15th Jan 2025

Soft

2m 7f 86y

Class 1

15:35 Newbury

Smiling Getaway

11st 2lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

raced in last but in touch with leaders, headway 4 out, soon went fourth, weakened run-in

10/1

Form: 111 D

Last run: 25 days

W: 11st 7lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
Excellent jumping pedigree; easy wins on good ground in a Southwell bumper and 2m4f Hereford maiden hurdle; 14-1 and the stable second string on jockey bookings when she added an eight-runner novice at Lingfield (2m, soft) last month by a nose in fine duel after leading before the final flight; firmly in the mix.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

9

15th Mar 2025

Good

2m 5f 0y

Class 2

14:45 Kempton

Aston Martini

11st 4lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

prominent, in touch with leaders 3rd

5/1

25

14th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 56y

Class 2

17:20 Cheltenham

Aston Martini

10st 7lb

J: Ben Bromley

T: Nicky Henderson

Reserve; record of 3-4 in her first season (2023-24); good second in two of her three starts this term, latest at Ascot (2m3f); chance of going one better in this field partly depends on how well she responds to first-time headgear.

40/1

2nd

11

18th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 58y

Class 2

14:50 Ascot

Aston Martini

10st 10lb

J: Freddie Gordon

T: Nicky Henderson

prominent early

14/1

Form: 21 D

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
Took four attempts to win an Irish point; second in Warwick bumper (soft) in November on rules debut and returned there to win an eight-runner novice hurdle (2m3f, soft) two months later, in charge all the way up the final straight; others have slightly better form but she looks sure to improve.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

9

20th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 57y

Class 4

16:42 Newbury

Either Or

11st 9lb

J: James Bowen

T: Nicky Henderson

Last two runs in a tongue-tie; value for her narrow winning margin at Doncaster (3m, good to soft) and probably ran just as well in defeat at Plumpton (soft); did go up 2lb for that 2l defeat which was annoying.

13/2

2nd

3

26th Jan 2026

Soft

3m 0f 217y

Class 4

15:20 Plumpton

Either Or

11st 9lb

J: James Bowen

T: Nicky Henderson

Has won on soft; some low points along the way but she was quite a convincing winner back hurdling at Doncaster (3m, good to soft; first-time tongue-tie) last month, despite the narrow winning margin and bleeding from the nose; the latter issue is a worry and she's back up 5lb but will be a major contender if all is well.

9/4

Form: 4-121P

Last run: 25 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
Second in a Cheltenham Listed bumper (soft) before winning easily when 8-13 for hurdling debut at Lingfield (2m, good to soft); bled from the nose behind Aston Martini at Lingfield (12-1) last time, however.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

21st Nov 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

15:00 Warwick

Jeune Belle

11st 11lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Lucy Wadham

Looked useful in bumpers and was a promising novice hurdler last season, albeit during a rather mixed campaign; stopped quickly and was pulled up when switched to fences for last month's handicap debut but it would be foolish to write off her chasing career after that.

11/1

Form: 21-113 BF

Last run: 54 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 123

Form & Verdict
Comfortably won Southwell bumper last April and also well on top at Ayr and Uttoxeter (soft) in November on her first two starts over hurdles; co-favourite when that winning sequence came to an end at Haydock (2m3f, heavy) in December but that was a Listed event and she had plenty to do before staying on into third of nine, another good effort; should go well again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

3

23rd Apr 2025

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 4

16:22 Perth

Little Miss Dante

11st 11lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Both hurdle wins at 2m (good to soft and soft) in November 2023; lightly raced with mixed results since but she can go well fresh and the pick of her form at about this trip gives her claims.

13/2

6th

3

23rd Apr 2025

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 4

16:22 Perth

Little Miss Dante

11st 11lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Both hurdle wins at 2m (good to soft and soft) in November 2023; lightly raced with mixed results since but she can go well fresh and the pick of her form at about this trip gives her claims.

13/2

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £39.10
Straight Forecast £34.10
Trifecta £162.00

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Cherie D'Am

SPOTLIGHT:

Smiling Getaway

LAMBOURN:

Either Or

TOPSPEED:

Little Miss Dante

The Guardian:

Aston Martini

The Star:

Springtime Promise

POSTDATA:

Little Miss Dante

Daily Mail:

Cherie D'Am

The Sun:

Cherie D'Am

Daily Record:

Cherie D'Am

The Times:

Either Or

Telegraph:

Either Or

WEST COUNTRY:

Smiling Getaway

D Express:

Smiling Getaway

Daily Mirror:

Smiling Getaway