The 2018 Lady Godiva Mares’ Novices’ Chase betting tips given by Horsebetting.com experts say Jester Jet is the one to be on in the 2m 4f feature contest at Warwick on Thursday, 13 December, following two cracking runs over the larger obstacles. Trainer Henry Daly has a tremendous record with his runners at the venue, so his Atlanta Ablaze looks the obvious danger – given she has proven form in the grade. Belle Empress, meanwhile won her sole start in an Irish point and is a totally unexposed sort who looks capable of outrunning her odds. Read our in-depth 2018 Lady Godiva Mares’ Novices’ Chase betting tips for full details on these horses’ chances.Jester Jet looks a cut above Lady Godiva rivalsJester Jet looks a cut-above her rivals and a worthy favourite to land the spoils in the feature race at Warwick on Thursday, the Listed 2m 4f Lady Godiva Mares’ Novices’ Chase (13:25). This Tom Lacey trained eight-year-old improved at a rate of knots over hurdles last season when winning twice.
In the last of those successes at Aintree’s Grand National meeting, she stayed on strongly to beat Eaton Hill in a competitive 19-runner Grade 3 handicap off a mark of 133. Jester Jet went on to round off the campaign with a solid second of 17 to Monbeg Theatre at Haydock off 6lb higher.
Those efforts suggested there would be even better to come from Jester Jet this season and that view was confirmed when she finished runner-up to Bags Groove on chasing debut over 2m 5f at Ffos Las back in October.
After being held-up, the daughter of Overbury was coming with good headway but then made a mistake three from home. That cost her vital momentum and ground, but she then stuck to the task well to go down by just two lengths at the line.
Bags Groove is a very smart prospect trained by Harry Fry, who has since gone on to follow-up in good style in a Grade 2 at Wincanton when beating the highly-regarded Secret Investor by nine lengths. He then gave weight all-round to land the hat-trick in a competitive seven-runner affair at Huntingdon off an official rating of 151.
That gives the form an extremely strong look in relation to this, even though Jester Jet was receiving 7lb from that rival. She has since gone on to run with huge credit when a staying on 1 1/4 lengths second to Maria’s Benefit in a Listed contest over 2m 1f at Bangor.
The step up back in trip to 2m 4f is sure to suit and an official rating of 142 puts Jester Jet 11lb and upwards clear of her six rivals. That makes her look in a different league and impossible to oppose, so we had no hesitation in making her the main selection in our 2018 Lady Godiva Mares’ Novices’ Chase betting tips.Atlanta Ablaze the main dangerAtlanta Ablaze is a dual winner over fences and officially the second highest rated in the line-up, so looks the obvious danger. This seven-year-old has proven form in the grade and hails from the yard of Henry Daly who has a tremendous strike rate of 37.5 per cent with his runners at the venue in the last 12 months.
After staying on gamely to score by 2 3/4 lengths over 3m at Bangor on seasonal reappearance, this daughter of Kayf Tara coped well with the drop back to 2m 5f when winning very easily by four lengths at Hereford. Connections then decided to pitch Atlanta Ablaze into Listed company and she ran a very solid race when third of five to Rons Dream over 3m at Market Rasen.
She was held-up and then made a mistake at the 11th that resulted in her struggling, but Atlanta Ablaze rallied well to be beaten 3 1/4 lengths at the line in the hands of Andrew Tinkler. Given how the race panned out it was a decent effort and, if treated on her previous chase win, the drop back to 2m 4f in this could well see her in a better light.
Another plus is Atlanta Ablaze is now reunited with champion jockey Richard Johnson who partnered her in both the aforementioned successes. So, taking everything into account, she looks likely to give Jester Jet most to think about and the rival to take advantage should that one fail to live up to expectations.Belle Empress not to be underestimatedIf there is to be a surprise, then Belle Empress could be the one to provide it. This seven-year-old won her sole start in an Irish point in good style and, after joining Emma Lavelle, came good at the third time of asking over hurdles for her new handler when running out a wide margin winner.
That success came at Fontwell where, after being held-up, the daughter of Black Sam Bellamy made good headway to from home before being produced to take up the running at the last by jockey Nick Scholfield. She then forged clear up the run-in to beat Illtellmema by 12 lengths.
Although what she beat is questionable, there was nothing not to like about the way in which Belle Empress got the job done. She is a really scopey sort who looks tailor-made for chasing and it’s interesting that connections have wasted no time sending her over the larger obstacles.
After just four starts she also remains totally unexposed and has the potentially to be anything. Belle Empress is undoubtedly the dark horse in the field and now gets the services of Aidan Coleman in the saddle, who has a 23 per cent strike rate when teaming up with the yard in the last 12 months, for the first time.
It would be folly to underestimate her chances and, should one of the big two underperform, it’d be no surprise to see Belle Empress make the frame. That’s why she features as the each-way selection and completes our 2018 Lady Godiva Mares’ Novices’ Chase betting tips.Your Next Bet
