Tough and genuine type looks ideal buy material in feature race at Cheltenham

Happy Diva
2.25 Cheltenham
Buy at 8 on index

This consistent mare is an ideal type for an index buy. She almost always runs her race and has finished in the first three in 22 of her 29 starts and 13 of her 15 chases.

Happy Diva needs only to finish in the first four to secure a profit for buyers here.

She looked unlucky not to play a part in the finish to this race last year as she was travelling well when brought down in a melee four out.

She went on to prove that she might have been unlucky when a good second behind Aso over 2m4½f on the New course in January before finishing third behind the highest-rated chaser in training Cyrname at Ascot and then beating subsequent Grand National runner-up Magic Of Light at Huntingdon.

Happy Diva evidently kept hot company and her close second behind Northern Beau over an inadequate 2m½f at this track in April confirmed her liking for the venue.

She would probably have been in need of the run when second behind Guitar Pete on her seasonal reappearance at Wetherby this month and that race has thrown up the winner of this three times in recent years.

If she improves for that return she has every chance of finishing in the frame.

2.25 Cheltenham

Sporting (50-30-20-10) 11-14 Slate House, 10-13 Siruh Du Lac, 9-12 Us And Them, Spiritofthegames, 8-11 Count Meribel, 7-9 Springtown Lake, 6-8 Happy Diva, 5-7 Guitar Pete, Eamon An Cnoic, Belami Des Pictons, 3-5 Brelan D’As, Magic Saint, Highway One O One, 2-4 Warthog, Splash Of Ginge, 1-3 Demi Sang, Mercian Prince, 0.5-2 Dell Oro.

Match bet 1.25-2.75 Slate House/Count Meribel.