Mares Handicap Chase – Cheltenham – Friday 9th December

Mares Handicap Chase Preview & Betting Tips – Will Smith

After a couple of pulsating weekends that pushed the negativity of small fields, withdrawn horses and fast ground to the back of everyone’s minds, it is hoped that the cold snap due this weekend doesn’t push us back to those dark places…

Hopefully Cheltenham have been unfurling those fleece frost covers, with temperatures forecast well into the minus each night from Wednesday onwards.

If they are able to work their magic and we get some action at jumps racing’s HQ, then there is a decent ante-post betting opportunity to get in the bank now. It comes in the CF Roberts Electrical & Mechanical Services Mares’ Handicap Chase at 1.50 at Cheltenham on Friday.

There are a number of factors at play here which will count against many of the entries – ante-post favourite On My Command runs today at Uttoxeter, Marta Des Mottes surely won’t stay well enough, for Gazette Bourgeoise and Legends Ryde the opposite applies as they are best over further, while Hawthorn Cottage and Fortunes Melody have shown a tendency to jump right over the larger obstacles.

This process of elimination is almost a derogatory way of looking at the chances of the ante-post pick Her Indoors, who is a lively bet at 9/1 each-way with Bet365, as her claims are solid enough that negatives of others shouldn’t really come into play.

But when you’re assessing ante-post markets, the opportunity for the price, place terms and betting opportunity to all be overly beneficial for you is very valid.

Alan King’s mare has had four runs at Cheltenham, and more relevantly three of them have come on the New course, which will be used for this December meeting for the first time this season.

All three have been extremely creditable – a win in April 2021 and two very good runs in better handicap company than she will face on Friday.

The key difference with her outing on Friday of course, is that this time it is over fences, as she makes her handicap chase debut over the larger obstacles. This comes on the back of a chase debut in a listed mares chase at Bangor over a trip inadequate of her best. But the key feature was that Her Indoors jumped very well for a horse having her first start over fences.

For all that being beaten 25 lengths or so would discourage plenty, the fact that Her Indoors raced on the inside of the chase course at Bangor that day, and was still able to gallop through the line, was extraordinary in it’s own right.

There wasn’t a horse all day that raced on that section of the track that was able to lift a leg come the closing stages!

At 9/1 each-way with Bet365, Her Indoors has so much in her favour for Friday’s Mares Handicap Chase at 1.50, and for those that aren’t able to avail of that price, then the general 7/1 is more than fair.

Of those quoted at larger prices, I could see Madera Mist outrunning her odds of 20/1+, but she hasn’t quite showed enough in two starts this season to recommend.

Instead, stick with Her Indoors! A phrase many will relate to…