Cheltenham options open for Feet Of A Dancer

Paul Nolan could be tempted to drop back into handicap company with Feet Of A Dancer at Cheltenham.

A creditable fourth in the Pertemps Final last year, this season she has stepped up in class and won a Grade Two easily at Doncaster last time out.

Grade Two Success Opens Multiple Festival Paths

Nolan had thought his options were to stick at three miles and take on the geldings – but no mare has won the Stayers’ Hurdle since Shuil Ar Aghaidh in 1993 – or take on Wodhooh and possibly Lossiemouth in the Mares’ Hurdle.

With a handicap mark of 141 Nolan could consider another crack at the Pertemps or what was the Coral Cup.

“We haven’t made our minds up fully yet,” said Nolan.

“Hopefully she’s still in one piece and we have a decision to make at the time but we were thinking between the mares’ race and the Stayers’ Hurdle.

“In the Mares’ Hurdle if Lossiemouth turns up along with Wodhooh, realistically we’re playing for third and against the geldings she’d be meeting them plenty wrong even with the 7lb allowance.

Handicap Route Could Offer Better Value

“On the other hand she was left alone on a mark of 141 after winning at Doncaster as he (the handicapper) went through the second of Emmet Mullins’ (Dream On Baby rated 139) so what would the top weight be in the Coral? Normally about 150 but the handicaps are changing now, aren’t they?

In the Mares’ Hurdle if Lossiemouth turns up along with Wodhooh, realistically we’re playing for third

Paul Nolan

“Because of the new rules for novices needing more runs there will be much bigger fields in the Grade Ones I think and that may alter the handicaps a bit.

“Feet Of A Dancer ran in the Pertemps last year and she was a little unlucky not to win it. Obviously she’s gone up that bit more this season so we’ve got a decision to make but we don’t have to make it for a while yet.”