PREVIEW | The April Meeting: Day Two

On the closing day of the April Meeting, several contests at Cheltenham holds an exciting line-up of contenders to watch out for on Thursday.

The action gets underway at 1:30 and concludes with the final race at 5:00.

The British EBF Mares’ Novices’ Handicap Chase Final is the feature race of the day, seeing six tough contenders making the trip to the Gloucestershire course.

Sandy Thomson’s Flower Of Scotland heads the betting, after beating Danse Idol and Pink Legend in a qualifier at Kelso last time out.

Liberty Bella won comfortably on her previous run for Brian Eckley while Jamie Snowdon’s Early Morning Rain ran a cracker in Listed company at Exeter in February.

Roseisaroseisarose completes the field, with Katy Price’s mare holding a serious amount of weight against her rivals.

The Glancing Queen returns to Cheltenham since her appearance at last month’s Festival, sitting as the current favourite for the Listed Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle.

The seven-year-old is stepped up in trip for the first time since finishing third in the Challow Novices’ Hurdle back in December and she could bounce back to form over the extra distance.

Nicky Henderson’s Fantastic Lady looks the biggest threat to Alan King’s mare, while Jane Seymour Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle winner Sandymount Rose and the consistent Go Millie Go could run a big race here as well.

Ex-flat runner Scholastic will be aiming for her first success over obstacles, with Joseph Patrick O’Brien’s filly holding an entry in the Grade 3 NAF Fillies’ Juvenile Handicap Hurdle.

The Irish-trained runner faces a tough task in improving sort Progressive while Her Indoors, Talking About You and Fiveandtwenty have all won in Listed company this season.

The Citipost Mares’ Handicap Hurdle is next on the card and David Pipe’s Sexy Lot is hoping to land a first career hat-trick here.

The five-year-old has made a promising start to life over hurdles, placing in the top two in eight of his 10 starts.

But this is the mare’s toughest challenge to date, with the rapidly progressing Molly Ollys Wishes and Cheltenham Festival runner Eglantine Du Seuil looking the biggest challengers to Pipe’s contender.

Promising mare Miss Amelia is aiming to claim her fourth win of the season in the Visit racingtv.com Mares’ Handicap Chase, with former Willie Mullins runner Cut The Mustard and C&D winner Northern Beau also running in the contest.

Emma Lavelle’s Jubilympics and Dr Richard Newland’s Whatsdastory share favouritism in the Catesby Estates PLC Mares’ Handicap Chase while 11 go to post in the Spreadex Sports Betting Mares’ Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race.

A cracking day of racing lies in store at Cheltenham on the second day of the April Meeting.

Read Reece Charlton’s three best bests for day two of the April Meeting here.