'She's got a leading chance' - which trainer really fancies his mare?

Thursday: 3.00 Warwick
Actioncoach Guaranteed Extra Profits Lady Godiva Mares' Novices' Chase (Listed Race) | 2m4f | 4yo+ | RTV

With four of the six runners having run just once over fences and all winning easily, you'd imagine this would be a competitive race, but the market doesn't see it like that.

Dan Skelton's Galia Des Liteaux is likely to be a short-priced favourite after a sparkling debut at Bangor last month, just 35 minutes before the stable's subsequent Coral Gold Cup winner Le Milos began his campaign, also with an easy win.

Galiea Des Liteaux, who had shown plenty of promise over staying hurdle trips, made light of a big drop in distance at Bangor, and this big, strong mare jumped as well as you could hope for a novice on debut.

She was no better than a lot of these over hurdles, but is by far the least exposed and looks to have a good future, with the extra distance an obvious advantage.

Kissesforkatie is one of just two with more than one run over fences to her name (the other being second-season novice Farne), and she began her campaign with an official rating 17lb higher than that of Galia Des Liteaux over hurdles.

She gets 5lb from the jolly here, though, and has shown a fair aptitude for fences, running second to subsequent Peterborough Chase winner Pic D'Orhy when thrown in at the deep end on her debut at Newton Abbot (albeit when very well treated at the weights), then winning comfortably in a small race at Fontwell next time.

She's going to need more here, but her jumping was sound at Fontwell, and she does receive 5lb from Galia Des Liteaux.

Kissesforkatie may well prove the biggest danger despite having gone chasing quite late (she's eight), but all of Tweed Skirt, Panic Attack and Eureka Creek have shown serious promise with career-best RPRs on their chase debuts, so this looks a warm little heat.
Race analysis by Paul Kealy

What they say

Dan Skelton, trainer of Galia Des Liteaux
She ran to a very high level for her first time over fences at Bangor and I was super happy with what I saw. I like what I've seen at home in the interim as well. I think the step up in trip is a positive for her and she's got a leading chance.

Emma Lavelle, trainer of Eureka Creek
I would have liked softer ground as she's a real mudlark, but hopefully there's enough moisture in it. I'd also have liked to have run over a bit further. However, Warwick is about jumping and she jumped and travelled beautifully at Uttoxeter last time, so hopefully we'll get away with it.

Tom Scudamore, rider of Panic Attack
She took to the fences very well at Huntingdon and the way she won suggests she could be even better as a chaser than a hurdler. She's going to have to improve again, but she seems to be in good order.

Nicky Henderson, trainer of Tweed Skirt
She jumped very well when winning on her debut over fences at Kempton and this seems the natural progression. She's in very good form.
Reporting by Andrew Dietz

The Racing Post Annual 2023 is here! Look back on a star-studded year in this fabulous 208-page book packed with the best stories and pictures. The perfect gift at £19.99. Order from racingpost.com/shop or call 01933 304858 now!