Classy mare Ms Parfois primed to rewrite Ladbrokes Trophy history

Ms Parfois can defy the weight of statistics and become just the second mare to win the Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury.

Only Kerstin in 1959 has triumphed for the distaff division, but in Ms Parfois, Anthony Honeyball appears to have just the type to right that record.

The seven-year-old enjoyed a fine novice season last term, winning three of her seven chase starts, including a Listed mares’ event over just short of three miles at this very track.

She also managed a fine second in the four-miler at Cheltenham before chasing home Terrefort in Grade One company at Aintree on her final outing.

Ms Parfois looks as though she will stay for days, so this three-and-a-quarter-mile trip should be right up her street, especially with conditions having started to ease in recent days.

She lines up on a competitive enough mark and can be relied upon to put in a fine round of jumping, with any further rain only aiding her cause.

Buveur D’air should be on the mark for Nicky Henderson as he kicks off his campaign in a stellar renewal of the Betvictor Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle.

The seven-year-old perhaps does not get quite as much credit as he deserves, given the fact he has won the last two Champion Hurdles and is unbeaten in his last ten starts.

Admittedly Henderson does notgotothewelltoooftenwith his two-mile star, but Buveur D’air always rises to the challenge – as he showed when repelling Melon by a neck at Cheltenham back in March.

His jumping was far from perfect that day, but he still managed to complete the task – which says plenty about his admirable attitude.

Baywing was a convincing winner of the Eider at Gosforth Park back in February and Nicky Richards’ charge can take a starring role in the Betvictor Rehearsal Chase.

The nine-year-old excels in testing conditions and has won first time out in previous seasons.