Stamina the question for big in-running festival winner Indefatigable

Racing TV Mares' Hurdle (Listed) | 3m½f | 4yo+ | RTV

Indefatigable was one of the most dramatic winners at the festival in March when she got up on the line to narrowly win the Martin Pipe.

It wasn't quite Big Strand in the 1997 Coral Cup but victory over Pileon did not look likely for much of the 2m4½f journey and her stamina won it after she traded at 910 in running on Betfair.

Indefatigable steps up to three miles for the first time here and stamina is now the question. She certainly shapes like she will stay this far but she has a Flat pedigree and this eight-runner contest will be a different test to the 23-runner Martin Pipe at Cheltenham, where she saves her best form with form figures of 5121.

There won’t be any worries over the track for Storm Goddess, who kept on strongly to get up on the line and beat Younevercall in a 2m5f handicap hurdle at the course earlier this month.

Storm Goddess surpassed Indefatigable’s in-running price on that occasion – trading at the maximum 1,000 in running – and she will also be having her first attempt over three miles but should stay.

Her jumping pedigree provides a bit more hope on that score and she is a relative of cross-country legend Balthazar King.

Stamina is not an issue for Cill Anna, who won over three miles at Doncaster in February. She will be the first runner to contest this for Paul Nicholls in more than ten years, which may be significant.

Graeme Rodway, tipster

What they say

Paul Webber, trainer of Indefatigable
I was perfectly happy with her run on the Flat recently. She wasn't a natural in the stalls. I expected her to lose eight to ten lengths at the start and she was beaten ten lengths, so it wasn't too bad. Jim Crowley said she had a blow but that run has put her spot on for this. There's no better place than Kempton to see if she gets three miles and she didn't really do much until the end of her five-year-old season, so I hope she's still on an upward curve.

Paul Nicholls, trainer of Cill Anna
It's the right race for her, but I wish the ground was slower, which is the only negative. It's a nice race, but if I get there and don't like the ground I probably won't run her – we'll have a look.

Alastair Ralph, trainer of Getaway Totherock
I'm not sure how her win last time will work out as the odds-on favourite didn't turn up, but she deserves her chance and has been progressive and is in good order. We've got the option of going over fences so we want to see where we are and this is a good option.

Charlie Longsdon, trainer of Storm Goddess
She's in great form and won at the course two weeks ago. We've been saying the last three runs that she wants a step up in trip, so there's that and decent ground, meaning this is a great chance for her to potentially get some black type.

More to read:

Last gasp! Rex Dingle notches first festival win aboard Indefatigable

'I was the festival's oldest virgin' - Webber bags emotional Martin Pipe triumph

Superstar hurdler Apple's Jade to be offered at Goffs December NH Sale

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