Be sure to get on Gitane to turn tables

TIPS: Mullins’ high-class mare can open trainer’s account at Huntingdon

GITANE DU BERLAIS can provide Willie Mullins with a first Huntingdon winner in the Lady Protectress Mares’ Chase.

Ireland’s all-conquering champion trainer saddled his first runners at the Cambridgeshire circuit when Screaming Rose and Snag List finished fourth and sixth respectively in a Listed bumper in early December and he now bids to make it third time lucky with this high-class mare.

The six-year-old will be meeting an old rival in Emily Gray, with Kim Bailey’s charge having come out on top when the pair clashed at Carlisle back in November.

Emily Gray was in receipt of 5lb that day but the pair line up off level weights this time and given the winning margin of just a length-and-three-quarters, Bailey’s runner appears up against it.

Gitane Du Berlais has since disappointed in a Listed hurdle at Sandown but bounced back to winning form in a Listed mares’ chase at Naas earlier this month and should be good enough for this.

Fellow Irish challenger FINEA gets the nod in the Weatherbys Bank Chase at Sedgefield.

The nine-year-old has been in excellent form since the turn of the year, winning at Down Royal and

Musselburgh as well as running a couple of good races in defeat. SELECTIONS:

HUNTINGDON: 1.45 Unison, 2.15 L Frank Baum, 2.45 Gitane Du Berlais, 3.20 Deja Bougg, 3.55 Its A Sting, 4.30 Neumond, 5.05 Top Priority.

SEDGEFIELD: 2.25 Invictus, 2.55 Halcyon Days, 3.30 Down Time, 4.05 Finea, 4.40 Grey Life, 5.15 Captain Sharpe.

DOUBLE: Gitane Du Berlais and Finea.

Willie Mullins: hoping for his first winner at the track.