Can Fantastic Lady finally lay the ghost to rest for Henderson and Hanbury?

Thursday: 3.15 Market Rasen
Bud Booth Mares' Chase (Listed) | 3m | 4yo+ | RTV

Nicky Henderson and owner Evan-Robert Hanbury must feel they have a score to settle with this race. They combined with Casablanca Mix who contested the event in 2018, 2020 and 2021 and was beaten all three times, including when finishing second twice as an even-money favourite.

Casablanca Mix finally looked like she might get a deserved win in the race when in front at the second-last fence 12 months ago, but victory again eluded her when she sprawled on landing and took a soft fall. Chilli Filli went on to make it back-to-back victories in the race.

This year Henderson and Hanbury are back for another go but not with Casablanca Mix. This time they saddle her half-sister Fantastic Lady, who was last seen unseating at the first in Aintree’s Topham Chase.

She probably just didn’t take to the Grand National fences that day as her jumping had been fine on her previous starts and she is better judged on her wins in handicaps at Warwick and Bangor at the start of the year. She also finished third in a Grade 2 at Kempton in February.

All those runs came over short of this trip, but three of her half-siblings stayed at least this far and one of them, Undressed, was third in the Cork Grand National over 3m4f. That gives hope Fantastic Lady can finally lay the ghost to rest and give Henderson and Hanbury a first win in the race.

The consistent Zambella is penalised for her win in a Listed event at Doncaster last season but remains the biggest danger, ahead of the potential improvers Little River Bay, Precious Eleanor and Legends Ryde. Huge outsider Raddle And Hum completes a tight-knit field.
Analysis by Graeme Rodway

What they say

Nigel Twiston-Davies, trainer of Zambella
She’s well and has had a nice break. I think she likes this three-mile trip. She’s the top rated in the race so we’re hoping she should be good enough to get the job done.

Henry Daly, trainer of Precious Eleanor
She always runs pretty well first time out. According to the handicapper she's up against it with some of the others because of the penalty she’s got but it’s a fairly obvious starting point for her and we’ll see how we get on. I don’t think the step up to three miles is that significant – it’s interesting the Nigel Twiston-Davies runner Zambella hasn’t won over three miles and neither has Fantastic Lady, so we’re all in the same boat.

Nicky Henderson, trainer of Fantastic Lady
She’s in great form. It’s her first try over three miles but I think she’d get it round there. She was very good throughout last season and I think she’s ready for the step up to Listed level. I think she's good enough but it's a very good, competitive race.
Reporting by Lola Katz Roberts

Sign up here. New customers only. First single & e/w bet only. Odds of 1/1 or greater. 4 x £5 bet tokens. Free bet stakes not included in returns. Free bets exclude virtuals. Free bets are non withdrawable. No free bet expiry. Eligibility restrictions. Further T&Cs apply. 18+. begambleaware.org.