LADY PROTECTRESS MARES’ CHASE ANALYSIS: MARKET OVERLOOKING A KEY CONTENDER?

All eyes will be on Brides Hill in the 14:20 at Huntingdon, and understandably so. She’s the class act in this Listed mares’ chase, having racked up a sequence of wins before a rare below-par effort at Doncaster. But while her credentials are solid, I suspect the market may be overestimating her dominance, especially given her tendency to be vulnerable when trading odds-on in-running — she’s been turned over four times in such scenarios.

That opens the door for a horse the market might be underestimating: Telepathique.

This mare has been improving rapidly over fences, and her recent form suggests she’s capable of springing a surprise here. Her bold, front-running style could be a decisive factor, particularly with a very weak pace forecast. In these small-field tactical affairs, the ability to control the race can prove invaluable, and Telepathique looks perfectly positioned to do just that.

Her Timeform ratings back up her progress, showing a steady climb from 134 to 150 in her last four starts. What’s more, the market might not fully appreciate the degree of her improvement – her latest performance at Fakenham, where she made all and jumped superbly, suggests there’s more to come. The ratings adjustments, factoring in her ‘+’ symbols, place her right behind Brides Hill, but at significantly better odds.

La Renommee deserves respect after beating Brides Hill last time out, but her hold-up style could leave her with too much to do if Telepathique gets a soft lead. Hauturiere looks to have a bit to prove after a rusty comeback, and the Timeform ‘?’ symbols highlight some doubts about her consistency.

At around 9/4, Telepathique represents the best value in the race. She’s improving, has the ideal pace profile, and could easily capitalise if Brides Hill shows any sign of vulnerability. In a race where tactical nous will count for a lot, Telepathique might just outsmart them all.

Recommended Bet: Telepathique to win at 9/4.