March 09 / 16.35 Hereford

16.35

Soft

cheltenhamfestival.com Mares’ Handicap Hurdle (Challenger Mares’ Hurdle Series Qualifier)

  • Prize money: £4066.37
  • 2m 0f 53y
  • Class 4
  • 7 runners
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cheltenhamfestival.com Mares’ Handicap Hurdle (Challenger Mares’ Hurdle Series Qualifier)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

100/30 (Won)

  • Win: £6.70
  • Place: £2.50

Form: 34-228 D BF

Last run: 117 days

W: 11st 8lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Began chasing career with two good runs in the autumn (2m4f/2m2f); off disappointing effort in November (jumped poorly) and now reverts to hurdling but her current mark is workable and drying ground will aid her cause.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

7th May 2026

Good

2m 3f 137y

Class 4

14:45 Huntingdon

Notnowlinda

11st 5lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Yet to match peak form since returning from long absence in the autumn but her third in first-time cheekpieces at Uttoxeter (2m4f, good to soft) in late March was a pretty good effort, and she'll be fine on the forecast good ground here.

6/4

3rd

3

28th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 207y

Class 4

14:35 Uttoxeter

Notnowlinda

11st 9lb

J: Tristan Durrell

T: Dan Skelton

In good form in spring of 2024; returned from long absence with two low-key runs in November but, after another break, she ran well to a point when fifth of 13 at Haydock (2m3f, good to soft) three weeks ago; continues to drop down the weights and she's not ruled out with cheekpieces added.

5/1

9/4

  • Place: £1.20

Form: -22522 D

Last run: 29 days

W: 12st 0lb

9 yo Mare

OR: 119

Form & Verdict
Four-time hurdle winner; runner-up on four of her five appearances this season, most recently when losing out only narrowly at Kempton (2m, soft) last month; 3lb rise puts her on new career-high mark but she ought to make her presence felt again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

9th May 2024

Good To Soft

2m 0f 70y

Class 4

19:20 Stratford

Amelias Dance

12st 0lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Robert Walford

Runner-up five times last season but not at best when well-held fourth at Taunton (2m, soft) in March; pulled up after a bad early mistake at Kempton last month.

5/1

5th

1

9th May 2024

Good To Soft

2m 0f 70y

Class 4

19:20 Stratford

Amelias Dance

12st 0lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Robert Walford

led, pressed leader when headed 2nd, led last (usual 2 out), headed home turn, weakened final 110yds

5/1

4

22nd Apr 2024

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

19:00 Kempton

Amelias Dance

11st 12lb

J: Harry Kimber

T: Robert Walford

midfield, bad mistake and almost fell 3rd, soon pulled up quickly

14/1

Form: 551231 D

Last run: 10 days

W: 10st 2lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 90

Form & Verdict
2-6 for new stable this season, the latter win gained in good style at Wincanton (1m7f, soft) ten days ago; effectively 10lb higher from 3lb out of the weights today but still respected in current mood.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

3

22nd Feb 2026

Soft

2m 2f 208y

Class 4

16:40 Hereford

Passing Kate

11st 9lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Matt Sheppard

Won two soft-ground chases (both 2m3f) in early 2025 and has posted some good efforts in defeat this season; looked laboured and was below form here (2m, soft) last month but can be dangerous off current mark if back on song in first-time cheekpieces.

7/2

4th

4

26th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 0f 8y

Class 4

15:00 Hereford

Passing Kate

11st 6lb

J: Ned Fox

T: Matt Sheppard

Won three times last season on soft/heavy ground; runner-up on first three starts this term then fifth at Exeter (2m1f, good to soft) 17 days ago when three places behind Royal Mer; today's forecast slow ground could aid her cause.

9/4

1st

6

22nd Feb 2025

Soft

2m 3f 98y

Class 4

14:00 Chepstow

Passing Kate

10st 10lb

J: Richard Patrick

T: Matt Sheppard

Three-time hurdle winner who kept on well to make winning chase debut at Exeter (2m1f, soft) last month; pulled up at Wincanton since, having made made jumping errors at consecutive fences, but still has scope to for further progress in this sphere.

8/1

OUR TIP

Form: P/P0P- D

Last run: 350 days

W: 11st 9lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
3-3 over hurdles in France in 2021; well beaten on all four subsequent starts for Venetia Williams, most recently when pulled up in Bangor handicap last March, but has dropped a long way down the weights and can't be written off just yet.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

30th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 7f 198y

Class 3

14:52 Taunton

Fautinette

11st 6lb

J: Miss Lucy Turner

T: Venetia Williams

raced in last, outpaced early, switched left and headway from 4th, pressed leader after 5th, led 7th, 2 lengths ahead last, stayed on when headed towards finish

6/1

2nd

4

30th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 7f 198y

Class 3

14:52 Taunton

Fautinette

11st 6lb

J: Miss Lucy Turner

T: Venetia Williams

Absent since below-par effort in French event (2m3f) six months ago; made all at Cartmel (3m1f) the time before, opening her British account on sole attempt beyond 2m5f; unexposed at this sort of distance.

6/1

11

27th Dec 2024

Good

3m 0f 121y

Class 2

13:20 Kempton

Fautinette

9st 11lb

T: Venetia Williams

Form: -51596 D

Last run: 18 days

W: 11st 10lb

9 yo Mare

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Dual hurdle winner in Ireland for Henry de Bromhead (2m/2m3f); changed hands after poor run in September and also looked out of sorts on recent stable debut; may yet come good for Dan Skelton but others have much less to prove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

8

9th May 2024

Good

2m 3f 137y

Class 4

13:50 Huntingdon

Cottie

11st 10lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

prominent

10/1

8th

8

9th May 2024

Good

2m 3f 137y

Class 4

13:50 Huntingdon

Cottie

11st 10lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

prominent

10/1

9th

12

18th Apr 2024

Good

2m 4f 56y

Class 2

14:40 Cheltenham

Cottie

10st 11lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

2-21 in Ireland, mostly for Henry de Bromhead and with latest win last June (made most); not nearly so good in her three runs for new yard but latest defeat was not as heavy and Irish record suggests that a return to better ground would be very much in her favour; title-challenging stable has made some telling strikes in handicaps this spring and she is one to note.

4/1

Form: 79P78

Last run: 18 days

W: 10st 2lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 71

Form & Verdict
Unable to land a significant blow when 33-1 for last month's handicap debut at Taunton (2m3f, soft) and effectively 18lb higher from out of the weights here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Form: -75450

Last run: 18 days

W: 10st 2lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
Competitive off lowly marks for Alastair Ralph last summer but soundly beaten on last month's stable debut at Taunton (2m3f, soft) and now 0-9 over hurdles; 16lb out of the weights today; tongue-tie added.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

15

13th Apr 2024

Soft

2m 3f 100y

Class 5

16:40 Chepstow

Citizen Jane

10st 2lb

J: Ned Fox

T: Ryan Potter

Soundly beaten on all three starts for new stable this year and now 0-11 over hurdles; not written off just yet but could be considered only if lively in the betting; tongue-tie (worn for last two races) left off.

25/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £15.50
Straight Forecast £15.75
Trifecta £25.00

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Amelia's Dance

RP RATINGS:

Passing Kate

The Times:

Passing Kate

D Express:

Passing Kate

The Sun:

Passing Kate

The Star:

Passing Kate

Daily Record:

Passing Kate

TOPSPEED:

Amelia's Dance

POSTDATA:

Amelia's Dance

WEST COUNTRY:

Amelia's Dance

Telegraph:

Amelia's Dance

The Guardian:

Amelia's Dance

Daily Mail:

Amelia's Dance

Daily Mirror:

Amelia's Dance