Cheltenham April Meeting – Day Two – CopyBet

Willie Mullins runs Saint Lucie in this race but she was well beaten in her last two starts and has a fair amount to prove, especially as the entire field receives plenty of weight from her. Harry Derham’s runner MATWANA is progressive and could be the alternative play.

This daughter of Galiway was raced only once on the Flat, finishing third in a maiden over just shy of a mile at Deauville for Christopher Head in January 2024. There was lots to like about her second at Hereford on her hurdling debut and she left room for improvement.

Perhaps a little fortunate to get off the mark at Doncaster next time, she was left in front after the last but still pulled clear to score by 10 lengths. Derham’s filly then ran well in Listed company, finishing second to Belfrina, and was again well clear of the next horse home.

She returned to winning ways by the narrowest of margins at Newcastle last time out but she was up against the boys and carrying a penalty. It’s important to note that the second and third have both won since and a mark of 117 shouldn’t be beyond her on that evidence.

Paul Nicholls has had an up-and-down season but successes at Cheltenham and Aintree have revitalised the yard. He runs JUBILEE ALPHA here and this mare has shown considerable potential since the start of her career.

She followed up her debut success in a Wincanton bumper by finishing second in a Grade 2 at the Aintree Festival last season and that form looks pretty solid. It didn’t take her long to get going over hurdles and she won a Listed contest at Taunton in good style.

Although she was pretty disappointing here at the Festival, the six-year-old deserves another chance and this race looks easier. Her half-sister won over 2m6f so there’s every reason to believe that the step up in trip will aid her chances.

ALL THE GLORY had no chance after suffering severe interference turning in at Musselburgh last time out so it’s easy to put a line through that effort. Lewis Saunders takes 7lb off here and that should ease her burden significantly.

Jonjo & A.J. O’Neill’s mare was gaining with every yard when third in a competitive race at the same track over just shy of two miles before that and clearly this longer trip is more suitable.

Her last win came over this two-and-a-half-mile distance in a Class 3 event at Southwell on New Years’ Day and she had any amount in hand, with jockey Benjamin Macey hardly needing to move a muscle. An 8lb rise was more than fair and she should go close here, having been dropped 1lb since.