Kalista Love
Kalista Love could only finish fifth in the mares' handicap chase at Cheltenham on Saturday, but she shaped much better than that suggests. Settled in mid-division early on, she got shuffled back in the field a little in traffic at the top of the hill, not helped by a slow jump at the final open ditch. Back in 10th place jumping the fourth last fence, she made some ground on the run down the hill, and she kept on well up the home straight. She wasn't helped by a nod on landing over the second last, nor by the fact that she was in traffic all the way up the home straight. Seventh jumping the final fence, she stayed on well up the hill to finish fifth, closest at the finish.
Winner of a mares' handicap chase over two and a half miles at Warwick in November on her chasing bow, this was a step forward from that by Tom Symonds' mare, up in grade and up in the handicap. It was just her second chase, so she should improve for the run, and she left the impression that she would appreciate a greater test of stamina. Out of a half-sister to Great Love, winner of the Grade 1 Prix Alain du Breil over two miles and three and a half furlongs, who beat Nickname and Rule Supreme and Sadlers Wings in a Grade 2 hurdle over two miles and five and a half furlongs, she will be of interest wherever she goes next, and interest will be heightened if and when she steps up in trip. The handicapper left her on her mark of 107, and that mark is more than workable.
Cheltenham, 13th December 2025
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