Cheltenham Tips: Ladies to the fore on Thursday

Thursday marks the second and final day of The April Meeting at Cheltenham and it's a unique card - running from 13:30 to 17:00 - featuring only fillies and mares.

It looks tricky, but I've come up with a couple of Cheltenham tips for you to consider - including a nice prospect in what will hopefully prove the lucky last.

15:15 - Lady Adare @ 11/4

A rise of nine pounds for finishing second by over four lengths, admittedly to a fair talent in a Grade 2, is an extremely harsh bit of handicapping and in a hot race on winter ground I'd probably be shying away from LADY ADARE.

However, it's drying by the hour at Cheltenham which is exactly what Harry Fry's lightly-raced eight-year-old wants - and despite its Grade 2 status this mares' novices' handicap chase looks a modest affair.

It's the selection's need for good ground that's played a big part in the daughter of Sholokhov managing only 11 career starts, though she's shown plenty of ability during that time.

That ability has been more obvious over fences this season. She was a good winner on her first go at Worcester back in October last year and her second to the 152-rated Knappers Hill - the "fair talent" I referred to earlier - at Wincanton a month later, putting 14 lengths between her and the 140-rated Captain Conby, was a career-best effort.

I'm putting a line through her last appearance at Exeter. She mounted on her way down to post and Jonathan Burke, who rides again here, reported the mare was never travelling - while Fry lamented the nine-day turnaround from Wincanton.

Given a break while waiting for better weather, I expect a return to the level shown earlier in the season which ought to be enough to make her mark in this company.

17:00 - Geturguccion @ 10/3

Fry and Burke have another live one in the bumper courtesy of Anno Power, but I prefer the claims of Alan King's GETURGUCCION.

The five-year-old daughter of Getaway, a half-sister to Willie Mullins' 135-rated Saylavee, fetched £100,000 at the sales in December before making her rules debut at Newbury last month.

She was runner-up that day, travelling like the best horse in the race before a prolonged battle on heavy ground against a more experienced, fitter horse in Jasmine Bliss who'd won on her previous start.

The latter was only a neck ahead on the line and the rest of the field were over six lengths behind, so connections must have been highly-encouraged by the start she made to her career.

That defeat certainly helps her at HQ on Thursday anyway, as she avoids a penalty - a burden carried by the aforementioned Anno Power.

Ben Pauling, who has been outstanding all season, saddles four-year-old I've Madeupmymind who receives a good amount of weight from the selection, but she needs to take a step forward on what she's achieved so far.

The biggest threat from the remainder of the field is Asian Star. She was going well when departing two out in a PTP Geturguccion was second in and Dan Skelton's mare is a half-sister to Supreme fourth Asian Master, so a market check is advised for her.

But ultimately I expect plenty of improvement from the selection who already sets a high standard and so she's taken to do the business.

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