Geraghty bidding for third success in four years in exciting mares' contest

3.40 Cheltenham
Park Mares' Handicap Hurdle | 2m4½f | 4yo+ | ITV4/RTV

The last race on the card has proved to be a platform for improvement in the past and Nicky Henderson is represented by two potentially well-handicapped runners - with his mare Dame De Compagnie the market leader.

Her fifth place at Cheltenham last month was her first run since landing a Listed mares’ novices' hurdle in April 2018. With a step back up in trip expected to suit, Barry Geraghty will be hoping for a third success in this in the last four years.

She looks the best of Henderson’s two, with question marks over a new trip for Lust For Glory - although Sam Waley-Cohen's 3lb claim could help in that regard. The David Pipe-trained Queens Cave, owned by GVC supremo Kenny Alexander of Honeysuckle fame, is the only runner to split the Henderson pair at the head of the market.

Topweight Indefatigable finished just one and three-quarter lengths behind the well-respected Lady Buttons last time out, and she is another who should not be inconvenienced by the step back up in trip.

Dan Skelton’s mare Vision Du Puy also ran in that contest at Wetherby, finishing two and a half lengths behind Indefatigable, but carries an extra 1lb over her rival this time around.

What do the stats say?

This season Nicky Henderson has a 30 per cent strike-rate at Cheltenham and Geraghty is the leading rider at the course with three wins.

Jamie Hamilton has a 42 per cent strike-rate over the past fortnight, with five wins from 12 rides. He is on board Ruth Jefferson’s Mega Yeats.

What do the trainers say?

Nicky Henderson, trainer of Dame De Compagnie and Lust For Glory
This is a good prize for these mares and I think their marks are still okay, but my biggest worry is Lust For Glory might want better ground. Barry [Geraghty] seemed to think stepping up to two-and-a-half miles would suit Dame De Compagnie, while the trip might be a concern for Lust For Glory because she's got plenty of pace.

Alan King, trainer of The Cull Bank
She was a useful novice last season, winning her first two races and then finishing second in Listed grade at Cheltenham. She is ready to start, though she came back in late, and looking ahead she will make a lovely chaser next year.

Dan Skelton, trainer of Vision Du Puy
She won over two-miles two-furlongs at Auteuil and those French horses can often want a step up in trip. I think this will suit her well. We've run her in a five-runner novice and another conditions race, so this will be different with lots of runners in a handicap. She's got inexperience to overcome, but I do like her and hopefully she's got a future.

Fergal O’Brien, trainer of Carolls Milan
She’s very solid, but has been off for a long time since running at Perth where she got a cut. This is just a nice race to get her started back again. If she could finish in the first four I’d be delighted.

David Pipe, trainer of Queens Cave
It's nice to have her back after a fibrillating heart last season. She has done nothing wrong in a couple of runs and steps into handicap company for the first time. She is in great form at present.

Joe Tizzard, assistant to Colin Tizzard, trainer of Dinos Benefit
She's a better hurdler than chaser and we've stuck the cheekpieces on her, so hopefully she's got an each-way chance.

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