Raceday LIVE – Lady Mendoza
Sedgefield,
Thu 14 Nov 2024 14:25
Related horse(s):
Lady Mendoza
Lady Mendoza makes her third start over fences today in the Class 5 Handicap Chase (14:25) over 3m2½f at Newcastle.
Read our Raceday LIVE Preview below and join us ahead of the race for all the build-up and live updates from the track with the team and Lady Mendoza's lucky owners for the day across our social channels on X (@coral) and Instagram (@coralofficial).
Raceday LIVE Preview
Lady Mendoza is set to continue over fences at Sedgefield this afternoon, having been to Hexham and Newcastle in her first two outings in chase races. She also steps up to 3m2½f for the first time today, having only run up to three miles over fences prior to today's race. When she last tackled a trip longer than three miles at Cartmel earlier this year, she impressed when finishing third, only two lengths behind the winner, Fautinette.
Lady Mendoza finished eighth in her chasing debut after really struggling to get to grips with the fast paced shown by the front runners, and finding the larger field at Hexham on the day a little difficult to navigate. Rebecca Menzies remained bullish after the race however, saying that "everything she does at home tells us she's capable of even better on the track" and that she would be sending our mare back out a couple of weeks later, in what would hopefully turn out to be a smaller field.
WATCH: Nathan Moscrop reviews Lady Mendoza's chase debut at Hexham
From there, Rebecca Menzies decided to send Lady Mendoza to Newcastle for her next outing, and made the eyecatching booking of Brian Hughes to ride. Brian had ridden her in the past, and believed at that point in time whilst she was still racing over hurdles, that she would be a good staying chaser in the future. She ran well that day, attaching herself at the rear of the seven runner field, but still within range of the leaders of the group. Again, the pace of the race began to take its toll on Lady Mendoza and she began to trail off with six jumps to go, however she did rally towards the end of the race and made up ground on those ahead of her to finish her race well.
WATCH: Brian Hughes reflects on Lady Mendoza's performance at Newcastle
Ross Chapman takes the reins on Lady Mendoza for the first time this afternoon, as the pair head up to Rebecca Menzies' local track. Ross has plenty of experience riding around Sedgefield with over 150 efforts to his name, and he's already notched up over £60,000 in prize money whilst riding for Rebecca so far this season, so hopefully he can be the one to get the best out of Lady Mendoza this afternoon.
The ground is set to be Good, the same as it has been for Lady Mendoza's last two runs, and instead of cheekpieces she'll be wearing a visor.
Pre-Race Message from Rebecca Menzies
I was a little bit disappointed with Lady Mendoza’s last run. Probably because I know what she is capable of. However, Brian Hughes got off her and was the complete opposite. He felt she needed every yard of the trip and further. It was his suggestion that we try 3m3f at Sedgefield with headgear on.
It looks like we have picked the right race here as there are only five runners. Ross Chapman has never ridden her on track, but he has been on board plenty of times at home. When he last schooled her, he rode her more forcefully and she really attacked her fences.
It would be nice if we could bounce her out today, so she has plenty of room. If she gets into a nice rhythm, there is no reason why she can’t win a race like this. She seemed in good form yesterday, so everything is positive going into this race.
Chris Dixon, Racing TV Analyst, breaks down today's race and previews Lady Mendoza's chances in the contest
Given her background in point-to-points, it’s been a surprise that Lady Mendoza has seemed to struggle a bit in her two starts over fences, which came on the back of an encouraging return to action following a short break at Perth in September. However, it’s too early to be writing her off as a chaser and the easier fences at Sedgefield along with a longer trip and change to more severe headgear (wears a visor for the first time) offering hope that she could at least get close to matching her hurdles form. If she manages to do that she would have a strong chance off a reduced mark of 86 and I wonder whether Ross Chapman, who takes the ride for the first time and seems to have a favoured riding style of making the running, may well send her forward early, tactics which I feel may be of benefit with her here.
Illogical Logic has also tumbled in the weights and turned in his best effort for a while when second last time. That form looks solid with the winner well supported in the betting and the third horse turning up in search of a five-timer so he looks of real interest, especially with some cheek pieces on for the first time and Brian Hughes taking the ride (seemingly having chosen to ride him rather than Lady Mendoza who he was aboard last time). Zwicky loves this track and will be suited by a step back up in trip after running on well to win over shorter following a break last time.
Lady Mendoza's Owners for the Day
As winners of the Owner for the Day competition, 10 lucky Coral Racing Club members have been given the chance to enjoy an exclusive owners experience for Lady Mendoza's run at Sedgefield this afternoon.
Each winner, along with a guest of their choosing, will receive free entry to Sedgefield Racecourse, including exclusive access to Owners & Trainers areas. They'll have the opportunity to meet Lady Mendoza and the Rebecca Menzies team, plus get to head into the parade ring before the race begins to be amongst all the other owners, trainers and jockeys. And last but by no means least, each winner will get to take home an equal 10% split of any prize money won by Lady Mendoza.
Today's Class 5 contest is worth £6,150 in total, with the winner set to scoop £3,247 for their lucky owners.
2nd: £1,494 | 3rd: £747 | 4th: £373 | 5th: £186
Trainer and jockey form
Rebecca Menzies has been in solid form recently, with four National Hunt winners coming in the last fortnight from her 19 runners, including a winner at Carlisle earlier in the week. Sedgefield is a course that she frequently finds success at, winning 31 times from 249 runs there, with one of those coming this season.
Ross Chapman has had a relatively quiet couple of weeks, only posting one winner from 14 rides in the last two weeks and that winner came here at Sedgefield for Rebecca Menzies too. He's ridden 5 winners for Rebecca Menzies in total this season and 21 in his career. He's had 16 career wins at Sedgefield, with the aforementioned win for Rebecca Menzies being his only win there this season.
14:25 SEDGEFIELD – LATEST ODDS
We hope you enjoyed reading today's Raceday LIVE Preview. Don't forget to tune in just before 14:25 to watch Lady Mendoza's next run for the club live on the Coral Sports app.
Read our Raceday LIVE Preview below and join us ahead of the race for all the build-up and live updates from the track with the team and Lady Mendoza's lucky owners for the day across our social channels on X (@coral) and Instagram (@coralofficial).
Raceday LIVE Preview
Lady Mendoza is set to continue over fences at Sedgefield this afternoon, having been to Hexham and Newcastle in her first two outings in chase races. She also steps up to 3m2½f for the first time today, having only run up to three miles over fences prior to today's race. When she last tackled a trip longer than three miles at Cartmel earlier this year, she impressed when finishing third, only two lengths behind the winner, Fautinette.
Lady Mendoza finished eighth in her chasing debut after really struggling to get to grips with the fast paced shown by the front runners, and finding the larger field at Hexham on the day a little difficult to navigate. Rebecca Menzies remained bullish after the race however, saying that "everything she does at home tells us she's capable of even better on the track" and that she would be sending our mare back out a couple of weeks later, in what would hopefully turn out to be a smaller field.
WATCH: Nathan Moscrop reviews Lady Mendoza's chase debut at Hexham
From there, Rebecca Menzies decided to send Lady Mendoza to Newcastle for her next outing, and made the eyecatching booking of Brian Hughes to ride. Brian had ridden her in the past, and believed at that point in time whilst she was still racing over hurdles, that she would be a good staying chaser in the future. She ran well that day, attaching herself at the rear of the seven runner field, but still within range of the leaders of the group. Again, the pace of the race began to take its toll on Lady Mendoza and she began to trail off with six jumps to go, however she did rally towards the end of the race and made up ground on those ahead of her to finish her race well.
WATCH: Brian Hughes reflects on Lady Mendoza's performance at Newcastle
Ross Chapman takes the reins on Lady Mendoza for the first time this afternoon, as the pair head up to Rebecca Menzies' local track. Ross has plenty of experience riding around Sedgefield with over 150 efforts to his name, and he's already notched up over £60,000 in prize money whilst riding for Rebecca so far this season, so hopefully he can be the one to get the best out of Lady Mendoza this afternoon.
The ground is set to be Good, the same as it has been for Lady Mendoza's last two runs, and instead of cheekpieces she'll be wearing a visor.
Pre-Race Message from Rebecca Menzies
I was a little bit disappointed with Lady Mendoza’s last run. Probably because I know what she is capable of. However, Brian Hughes got off her and was the complete opposite. He felt she needed every yard of the trip and further. It was his suggestion that we try 3m3f at Sedgefield with headgear on.
It looks like we have picked the right race here as there are only five runners. Ross Chapman has never ridden her on track, but he has been on board plenty of times at home. When he last schooled her, he rode her more forcefully and she really attacked her fences.
It would be nice if we could bounce her out today, so she has plenty of room. If she gets into a nice rhythm, there is no reason why she can’t win a race like this. She seemed in good form yesterday, so everything is positive going into this race.
Chris Dixon, Racing TV Analyst, breaks down today's race and previews Lady Mendoza's chances in the contest
Given her background in point-to-points, it’s been a surprise that Lady Mendoza has seemed to struggle a bit in her two starts over fences, which came on the back of an encouraging return to action following a short break at Perth in September. However, it’s too early to be writing her off as a chaser and the easier fences at Sedgefield along with a longer trip and change to more severe headgear (wears a visor for the first time) offering hope that she could at least get close to matching her hurdles form. If she manages to do that she would have a strong chance off a reduced mark of 86 and I wonder whether Ross Chapman, who takes the ride for the first time and seems to have a favoured riding style of making the running, may well send her forward early, tactics which I feel may be of benefit with her here.
Illogical Logic has also tumbled in the weights and turned in his best effort for a while when second last time. That form looks solid with the winner well supported in the betting and the third horse turning up in search of a five-timer so he looks of real interest, especially with some cheek pieces on for the first time and Brian Hughes taking the ride (seemingly having chosen to ride him rather than Lady Mendoza who he was aboard last time). Zwicky loves this track and will be suited by a step back up in trip after running on well to win over shorter following a break last time.
Lady Mendoza's Owners for the Day
As winners of the Owner for the Day competition, 10 lucky Coral Racing Club members have been given the chance to enjoy an exclusive owners experience for Lady Mendoza's run at Sedgefield this afternoon.
Each winner, along with a guest of their choosing, will receive free entry to Sedgefield Racecourse, including exclusive access to Owners & Trainers areas. They'll have the opportunity to meet Lady Mendoza and the Rebecca Menzies team, plus get to head into the parade ring before the race begins to be amongst all the other owners, trainers and jockeys. And last but by no means least, each winner will get to take home an equal 10% split of any prize money won by Lady Mendoza.
Today's Class 5 contest is worth £6,150 in total, with the winner set to scoop £3,247 for their lucky owners.
2nd: £1,494 | 3rd: £747 | 4th: £373 | 5th: £186
Trainer and jockey form
Rebecca Menzies has been in solid form recently, with four National Hunt winners coming in the last fortnight from her 19 runners, including a winner at Carlisle earlier in the week. Sedgefield is a course that she frequently finds success at, winning 31 times from 249 runs there, with one of those coming this season.
Ross Chapman has had a relatively quiet couple of weeks, only posting one winner from 14 rides in the last two weeks and that winner came here at Sedgefield for Rebecca Menzies too. He's ridden 5 winners for Rebecca Menzies in total this season and 21 in his career. He's had 16 career wins at Sedgefield, with the aforementioned win for Rebecca Menzies being his only win there this season.
14:25 SEDGEFIELD – LATEST ODDS
We hope you enjoyed reading today's Raceday LIVE Preview. Don't forget to tune in just before 14:25 to watch Lady Mendoza's next run for the club live on the Coral Sports app.
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