3:55 Chepstow Tips

Three runs this winter for the 7-year-old mare. Two narrow defeats were followed by a big run six weeks ago when she was beaten just 4L in an Irish 18-runner £54K handicap. Same mark for this £6K contest and now helped by a 5 lb claiming jockey.

Normally a front-runner who won at Uttoxeter and Aintree, followed by a good 2nd at Newbury. In form and can return to the winners' enclosure today.

Rula Bula's stable is in sparkling form at the moment. She comes here off a 76-day break after a slightly disappointing run at Newbury when she was 5th behind White Noise. That horse won at the Cheltenham Festival, and Rula Bula had previously won her first race of the season at Carlisle.

Flying Fortune won the Persian War over this course and distance in 2024 in very impressive fashion. However, she had been off for a lengthy absence before reappearing a month ago in a Listed race at Warwick. She was in need of that race, and hopefully will have stepped forward since then. She is the class act in this race, and if she is anywhere near her best she should be in the shake-up.

Sunday Soldier had a fall three out in the race she had been targeted for at Cheltenham in December. (Going well enough at the time.) She then had a confidence booster back over hurdles before running third in a Listed mares event at Wincanton last time. That was just her fifth chase start and was a top effort against 130+ rated horses. She has proven she gets this trip well over the hurdles, and there looks to be more to come in this sphere. EW at 12/1 is very good value.