Oliver Sherwood is aiming to extend his good record in the EBF & TBA Mares' "National Hunt" Novices' Hurdle Finale at Newbury on Saturday with Hitherjacques Lady.
Back-to-back wins for Jaunty Flight and Argento Luna in 2008-09 advertised Sherwood's strengths with the fairer sex and this has been the plan with Hitherjacques Lady for a while.
Wins at Wincanton and Lingfield, both in heavy ground, sealed her place in the field but Sherwood would have preferred to have seen a softer surface at Newbury.
"There's no doubt she's an improving mare," said the Upper Lambourn handler.
"Being honest, I'd like the ground to be a little bit softer as, even though she does have a win on good ground in a bumper, she's quite a big mare.
"We know she handles ground with plenty of cut so I'd just be a little bit more content if it rained as we know heavy ground is no inconvenience.
"She's a cracking mare. I'm looking forward to fences with her but once you've won two with a mare this is the obvious target."
Louisa Carberry, married to Champion Hurdle-winning jockey Philip, saddles her first runner in the UK with It's Jennifer.
"She ran well at Compiegne first time out this season and then she was second at Auteuil," said Carberry.
"She has won at Auteuil this season but last time out she got stuck in very heavy ground at Compiegne and it didn't work out.
"There are still some very nice fillies running but some that might otherwise have been in this might have gone to Cheltenham instead.
"Better ground will suit her, so the forecast rain isn't great but, saying that, she has won at Auteuil on soft so she should handle it, it's just the very heavy she doesn't want."
Charlie Longsdon was successful two years ago with Kalane and is represented by Snow Leopardess, with Aidan Coleman in the saddle.
Longsdon said: "The form of her bumper win in Gowran, when she was given an excellent ride by Jamie Codd, is strong, and even before that her run at Aintree last season was very good.
"She needed the run last time out and I would like to think she'll strip a good bit fitter now.
"I think there's every reason to believe she'll go well."
Fergal O'Brien's string have been in good form all season and he runs dual winner Wizard's Sliabh, who wears cheekpieces for the first time.
"She's done very well for us and I think she'd have a nice chance at Newbury," he said.
"Definitely there's a bit of improvement in there."
