Cheltenham Thursday Preview - 15/04/21

The first race of the day at Cheltenham is the Listed Mares' Novices' Hurdle over 2m4f and The Glancing Queen for Alan King if running to her best form will be tough to beat.

The mare has been a superb performer for the yard over the years starting in bumpers where she won over course and distance on her first start and then progressed through that season to then win the Grade Two Mares' bumper at the Grand National festival in 2019.

Having almost a year off through a setback she returned at Cheltenham in March 2020 and finished eighth of 23 in the Champion Bumper behind Ferny Hollow and Appreciate It.

This season the mare was sent over hurdles for the first time and having had a lot of flat form, she now used that over timber getting off the mark at Warwick at the first time of asking.

She was then pitched into the Grade One Challow Hurdle where she was third behind the superstar Bravemansgame, which is fair form.

The Glancing Queen got back to winning ways at Bangor in a weak event and then went to Exeter over a lesser trip and was second to the smart Wilde About Oscar.

She was last seen finishing fifth in the Grade Two Mares' Novices Hurdle, and the form of that race has since stacked up with the fourth going on to win a Grade One.

If handling the good ground she is the horse to beat on ability.

We are looking for Alan King to have a quick-fire double on the card with Her Indoors looking to have a great chance in the Grade Three Juvenile Handicap Hurdle.

The four year old filly was a decent flat horse last season and this term has been sent over hurdles by the master dual trainer and has shown some smart ability.

She made her debut in December at Aintree in a Listed Juvenile Hurdle and finished a good second behind Talking About You.

The daughter of Raven's Pass then went to Kempton over two miles and was another good second behind Heross Du Seuil, who looks to be a nice type for Nicky Henderson.

She finally got off the mark at the third time of asking at Doncaster in a Listed Juvenile Hurdle, reversing the form with Talking About You.

The filly was pitched in the Boodles at the festival last time out and was slightly outclassed by a few of them finishing mid-field, but the form of that race has worked out well and now 1lb lower she has a big chance.

One of the feature events of the day is the Listed Mares' Handicap Hurdle over 2m4f and Bourbon Beauty for Alex Hales is looking to back her big race success last time out.

The six year old mare has been seen five times this season and has progressed a huge amount to now be a Grade Two winner, having struggled in novice company at the start of the term.

Having needed the run on seasonal debut she then went to Warwick and finished a good second behind The Glancing Queen, with the form of that race working out well.

She also franked the form when getting off the mark next time out at Kelso just getting the better of Wild Polly in a cracker.

The mare went back to Warwick two starts ago and was a long way third behind two nice types, but bounced back to form massively last time out when giving a career best performance to land the Grade Two Mares' Hurdle at Newbury.

Bourbon Beauty has gone up 8lb but looks to be highly progressive and could just steal the race again from the front.

The Class 3 Mares' Handicap Chase over 3m2f looks to be a very competitive affair with all the horses looking to have a similar level ability, but we believe we have found a horse that has been completely laid out for the contest.

The Caroline Fryer trained Goodnight Charlie is a veteran at 11 years old now but she might have time for one last big scalp with this event.

Having been hit and miss this term the mare got her act together three starts ago at Warwick in a 3m5f Handicap Chase finishing a good second behind Volcano.

She then went to Chepstow and backed that up over another staying trip finishing second behind Supreme Escape in decent Handicap Chase.

The mare was pulled up last time out at Warwick but coming back out so quickly tells us all is good with the horse and it was just a blip.

Harry Skelton is booked which is a big sign in itself and she is now 17lb lower in the handicap than when winning this same race back in 2019.

Big each way player.

The final selection from Prestbury Park on the afternoon comes in the finale which sees a bumper over 2 1/2 miles and Signal Point for the Skelton's could be a class above this field.

The five year old mare has been seen once in her career to date and it saw her finish second at Newcastle in March behind a nice type for Micky Hammond.

That looks to be some of the best form on offer and the daughter of Fame And Glory will be sure to come on for her first experience .