April 02 / 14.45 Ludlow

14.45

Good

Birthday Bonanza Mares’ Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £5281
  • 2m 4f 11y
  • Class 4
  • 4 runners
RTV
View Course
Birthday Bonanza Mares’ Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 4 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

Evs (Won)

  • Win: £1.84

Form: /35311 CD

Last run: 23 days

W: 11st 12lb

9 yo Mare

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Scored over C&D (good) last spring and has been back in good form in recent weeks, winning at Fakenham (2m5f, good) and Stratford (2m6f, good to soft); still on a workable mark after latest 4lb rise; good chance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

27th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 214y

Class 3

17:05 Doncaster

Sainte Doctor

11st 12lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Neil Mulholland

Won three in a row early last year (2m4f-2m6f, good/good to soft) before keeping on well for second over 3m1f at Cheltenham (good); returned from break with good second at Fakenham (2m5f, good to soft) last month and she's high on the list today.

11/4

2nd

1

18th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 44y

Class 2

14:40 Fakenham

Sainte Doctor

12st 0lb

J: Toby McCain-Mitchell

T: Neil Mulholland

Five-time chase winner (good/good to soft; once over C&D); absent since very respectable third at Aintree (2m4f, good) last May but this race is easier and she features prominently in calculations.

11/4

3rd

5

16th May 2025

Good

2m 3f 200y

Class 3

17:45 Aintree

Sainte Doctor

11st 2lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Neil Mulholland

Back in prime form towards end of last season, winning three in a row (2m4f-2m6f) before creditable second in valuable series final at Cheltenham (3m1f, good); ought to be right in the thick of things again here.

9/4

OUR TIP

Form: 241462 C BF

Last run: 42 days

W: 11st 9lb

7 yo Filly

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Largely consistent mare who has a good record at this track over hurdles and fences; ran well behind all-the-way winner over C&D (good to soft) six weeks ago and will be fine on today's faster ground; respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

10th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 11y

Class 4

16:37 Ludlow

Regal Renaissance

12st 0lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Henry Daly

Posted best effort of her 2025-26 campaign when neck second, clear of the remainder, at Stratford (2m3f, good) last time; appears capable of going one better, having recorded sole chase success (November 2024) off current mark.

7/4

2nd

3

28th Mar 2026

Good

2m 3f 98y

Class 4

16:33 Stratford

Regal Renaissance

11st 12lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Henry Daly

On a losing sequence and she came in a below-par fourth of eight in 2m4f Ludlow handicap chase last month; needs to take a step forward.

3/1

Form: 1125FP CD

Last run: 69 days

W: 11st 2lb

8 yo Mare

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Completed a hat-trick when pipping Regal Renaissance over C&D (good) last May and is now 3lb below that mark but looked out of sorts when last seen in the winter and needs 69-day break to have done her good.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

23rd Oct 2025

Good To Firm

2m 7f 171y

Class 4

14:07 Ludlow

Trapista

11st 8lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Easily the most experienced over fences, and a 2m4f win here (good) off 17lb higher rounded off a spring 2024 hat-trick; no successes since, however, and it's a push to say this step up to 3m has long been needed.

4/1

3

7th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 104y

Class 4

16:12 Fontwell

Trapista

11st 4lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Won three chases in a row (2m-2m4f, good-soft) in spring 2024 but generally disappointing since; beaten out of sight when 20-1 at Newton Abbot 17 days ago; revival needed.

10/1

7th

6

21st Aug 2025

Good

2m 4f 216y

Class 4

17:35 Newton Abbot

Trapista

11st 2lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Completed chase hat-trick in spring 2024 but generally disappointing since; May's second of three at Ludlow (2m4f, good) was encouraging but she's been soundly beaten since and was weak in the market when an early casualty over C&D last month; easy to look elsewhere.

20/1

Form: 6P6-63 D

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 4lb

8 yo Mare

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Very well handicapped on some of her old Irish form and will be suited by today's trip/ground but returned from long layoff with two disappointing runs this year (2m4f/2m) and needs a big boost from the new cheekpieces.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

8th Oct 2025

Good To Firm

2m 5f 55y

Class 4

16:08 Ludlow

Happy Dex

10st 8lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Sheila Lewis

Very well handicapped on old Irish form but returned from long absence with four disappointing chase runs towards end of last season and her current hurdling ability is very hard to gauge; tongue-tie removed after one use.

16/1

9

17th Apr 2025

Good

3m 1f 56y

Class 2

14:10 Cheltenham

Happy Dex

10st 12lb

J: Harry Kimber

T: Sheila Lewis

Very well handicapped on old form over shorter trips for Gordon Elliott but returned from long layoff with two disappointing runs this year; fared a bit better in first-time cheekpieces at Ludlow (3m, good; race won by Saint Doctor) a fortnight ago but looked held when unseating rider at fourth-last fence; upped in trip and fitted with tongue-tie here.

50/1

9

17th Apr 2025

Good

3m 1f 56y

Class 2

14:10 Cheltenham

Happy Dex

10st 12lb

J: Harry Kimber

T: Sheila Lewis

Very well handicapped on old form over shorter trips for Gordon Elliott but returned from long layoff with two disappointing runs this year; fared a bit better in first-time cheekpieces at Ludlow (3m, good; race won by Saint Doctor) a fortnight ago but looked held when unseating rider at fourth-last fence; upped in trip and fitted with tongue-tie here.

50/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £3.20
Straight Forecast £3.47
Trifecta £4.30

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Sainte Doctor

TOPSPEED:

Regal Renaissance

The Times:

Regal Renaissance

The Guardian:

Regal Renaissance

Daily Mail:

Regal Renaissance

D Express:

Regal Renaissance

RP RATINGS:

Sainte Doctor

POSTDATA:

Sainte Doctor

Telegraph:

Sainte Doctor

Daily Mirror:

Sainte Doctor

The Star:

Sainte Doctor

Daily Record:

Sainte Doctor