Take No Chances
Take No Chances did well to get as close as she did in the two-and-a-half-mile mares' handicap hurdle at Cheltenham on Saturday. The pace was not strong, and she was held up early on, as she usually is. Just 11th of the 12 runners as they started to run down the hill, she moved up nicely on the outside and she travelled well around the home turn, still only eighth or ninth but no more than three or four lengths off the leader. It developed into a sprint from there, however, and that wasn't ideal. She came under a ride when they straightened up for home, and progress wasn't immediate. Wodhooh ran out a good winner, she quickened impressively from the front and maintained her unbeaten record over hurdles, now six for six. But Take No Chances stuck to her task well up the hill to take third place, just two lengths behind the winner, clocking a finishing speed of over 110% of overall speed, higher than all her rivals.
It was another fine performance by Dan Skelton's mare. Third in the Silver Trophy at Chepstow on her debut this season when, again, she did well to get as close as she did from the rear off a sedate pace, she proved that she had the pace for two miles when she won the Listed Mares' Hurdle at Wetherby's Charlie Hall meeting in early November. She was out of her depth in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle, but she proved on Saturday that she is a talented and in-form and progressive mare. A 2lb hike takes her up to a mark of 139, but that mark may still under-rate her ability. A well-run two and a half miles is probably optimal for her, but she stays well too, she has won twice over around three miles.
Cheltenham, 14th December 2024
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