Newbury plays host to a competitive seven-race card on Wednesday including the Mares’ Listed Chase at 2:00 pm, we’ve taken a closer look at the field and produced an in-depth runner-by-runner race preview. Check this out here, alongside an exclusive Betfair offer which provides £50 in free bets.
Make Your Best Bet At BetVictor Mares’ Chase (2:00 pm Newbury, Wednesday 15th December, 2m 7f 86y)
1. CHILLI FILLI (Henry Daly, Richard Patrick) 9/2
Very useful chaser on her day and made it back to back Listed wins with a comfortable success at Market Rasen on return from a 202 day-layoff. The eight-year-old mare is a regular in these Listed events and no reason to suggest why she wouldn’t run well again in search of her third win in a row.
2. MOMELLA (Harry Fry, Sean Bowen) 6/1
Enjoyed a productive campaign last season winning two novice chase events at Exeter and Wincanton before gaining Listed honours over 3miles in February this year back at the Devonshire course. Has failed to defeat Chilli Filli in her two starts since and will do well to reverse the form with Henry Daly’s charge.
3. BRIDGE NATIVE (Ciaran M Murphy, Conor Orr) 8/1
The Irish raider was a wide-margin winner of an extended 2m2f Galway handicap back in October for connections. The ten-year-old was set a tough task on her penultimate run at Navan when finishing behind the Gigginstown duo of Samcro and Notebook in a Grade 2 2mile contest. Shouldn’t be totally ruled out of this but has only attempted this trip once in her career when a well-beaten fifth at Bellewstown back in July 2020.
4. CASABLANCA MIX (Nicky Henderson, Nico de Boinville) 13/2
Nine-year-old mare has failed to win since landing a hattrick of wins back in 2019, two of those coming at Listed level. Recent efforts have been underwhelming but she was in the process of running a big race behind Chilli Filli last time out before falling three from home at Market Rasen. Hard to rule out of this given her connections and could return to form.
5. HAWTHORN COTTAGE (Amy Murphy, Jack Quinlan) 22/1
Two-time chase winner from just five starts over the larger obstacles and won by a wide margin at Kempton on her penultimate start against Class 3 opposition. Failed to get competitive last time out at Huntingdon and will find it tough to get competitive in a race of this nature now stepped markedly up in grade.
6. LEGENDS GOLD (Rebecca Curtis, Adam Wedge) 6/1
Made the perfect start to life over fences when taking a class 4 novice chase at Ffos Las last season. Has run respectably in four starts since and returned in November when finishing third behind subsequent Grade 3 Becher Chase winner Snow Leopardess. There should be more to come following that return from a break, but it’s worth noting she has failed to get competitive on all three starts when tackling Listed opposition.
7. SILVER FOREVER (Paul Nicholls, Harry Cobden) 13/8
Progressive mare when seen last campaign over hurdles, winning three out of four starts including at Listed level at Sandown in January 2020. Defied a 670-day absence when landing a beginners’ chase at Newbury on return when beating sole rival Imperial Alcazar. Will have the bounce factor to contend with after that effort but has now won 4 out of her last 5 starts and is difficult to oppose with further improvement to come.
8. WIN MY WINGS (Christian Williams, Nick Scholfield) 14/1
Recorded a 10l victory on just third chase start when routing the opposition in a 3m2f Class 3 contest at Cheltenham back in April and duly followed up by a neck at Compiegne over an extended 2miles. The eight-year-old mare was disappointing on return in November when well beaten behind Chilli Filli and Momella at Market Rasen and will face a tough task troubling that pair once more.
BIG RACE VERDICT
Henry Daly will be confident Chilli Filli can land her fourth Listed chase and should confirm the form on recent runs with Momella and Casablanca Mix. Irish raiders have had a strong record in this contest in recent years and it would not be a surprise to see Bridge Native outrun her odds. However, they all look to be up against a smart mare in the shape of SILVER FOREVER who looked impressive in defeating Imperial Alcazar at this track on just her first chase start. The grey mare was faultless in her jumping and looks one to keep firmly on the right side. Paul Nicholls’ seven-year-old can take this prize on route to bigger targets further down the line.
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