This would be the easiest assignment for ILE DE JERSEY since her return from 19 months out, a further 2lb drop and the return to a sharp track merely adding to her appeal. She's taken to uphold Cheltenham superiority over Of Course You Can, for all that her old rival is another with demonstrable effectiveness around today's sort of course. Taxus Baccata still has a little to prove in class 4, but a lower hurdles mark and the debuted cheekpieces may assist. [Jeremy Grayson]
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Fared best of the quartet here to contest a Cheltenham mares' series final last month (20.5f, good), beaten 11l but rallying close home; eased another 2lb, and one of a few in the line-up with winning form around sharp, flat, clockwise tracks (Ludlow scorer).
Prolific 2023-24 included a hat-trick a year ago, but was never a factor at Cheltenham latest and stiff mark is unchanged; 0-9 record going right-handed (5-9 the other way) also rates a concern; cheekpieces go on.
Aintree mares' handicap winner off 2lb lower this time last year (2m4f, good); more hot than cold since, though posted comparable form effort in the mud here in January (course record of 623); place claims.
Landed a 2m-2m3f good-ground hat-trick for these connections last term before finding Cheltenham class 3 company beyond her; still 9lb above her highest mark defied and likely needs another career best.
Four-time hurdles winner at up to 2m4f including on good ground, but never off as high as today's mark nor after more than 51 days out; regressive efforts when last seen in the autumn (chase debut latest).
Only just ahead of Mermaids Cave at Cheltenham (beaten 16l), but it's possible neither that track nor the Newbury of her preceding Grade 2 handicap outing suit her as well as Ludlow's flat, sharp right-hander, scene of October's easy win (2m5f, good); not ruled out off dipping mark.
Emphatic Plumpton handicap/chase debut winner in March (2m4f, good); excused defeat next time as race came too soon, but class 4 looked a bit beyond her latest and it's the same grade for her on this return to hurdles, albeit she's racing off 7lb lower; first dabble with headgear today.
1/5 Odds Place 1,2,3
( Pool guide displayed could change before the race starts & should be used as a guide only )
