Marie’s Rock springs 18-1 surprise in Mares' Hurdle

Marie’s Rock gave Nicky Henderson and Nico de Boinville gave a big-race double by springing a surprise in the Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle at Cheltenham.

The 18-1 shot, owned by Middleham Park Racing, collared Queens Brook up the hill to win a dramatic renewal of the Grade One contest over two and a half miles.

There was all to play for when Indefatigable fell at the second-last flight, bringing down Telmesomethinggirl, for the Honeysuckle connections of owner Kenny Alexander, trainer Henry de Bromhead and jockey Rachael Blackmore.

Queens Brook was left in the lead but she was soon hard pressed by Marie’s Rock, who proved the stronger to get the verdict by a length and three-quarters. Mrs Milner was the same distance away despite being hampered by the melee at the penultimate hurdle.

The victory was the second leg of a brace for Henderson and De Boinville after Constitution Hill in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.

Winning trainer Nicky Henderson said: “She was virtually coming in the Dawn Run (Mares’ Novice) the other year as favourite for it and she got injured and couldn’t run, which was seriously disappointing.

"She came back last year and we’d just lost her completely and all you can do is just sit still and wait and to be fair Epatante was missing last year too. Both girls have come right back and I’m thrilled for Tom Palin who looks after the Middleham team and all the guys. They’ve been very patient when things were going badly last year, but we always knew she was a good filly.

“First time out this year she looked as though she was back and she was very good at Warwick the last time, so we had to come here and Tom’s just been brilliant. All credit must go to Middleham Park, it’s a great operation and I’m full of admiration for them. They’ve a lot of horses and put in a lot of hard work so they deserve it.

“We had four runners today and if you’d have told me this morning I’d have had all four finishing in the first two – I’d have said it was going to be a good day! In golf you’re meant to play to your age, so when you’re 66 you’ve got to go round in 66 and so on. I’m 71 so the first winner this week took me to that and we’ve put one in the bank for next year just in-case I don’t last!

“Aintree is very tight this year and I’m going to be reluctant with my horses – Constitution Hill and Jonbon won’t be going that’s for sure. Epatante won’t go as there’s no two miles and we’re trying to get Buveur D’Air ready for the Aintree Hurdle anyways.”

Successful jockey Nico de Boinville, commented: “I'm over the moon with how it's gone. Now we are fully focused on tomorrow and onwards and upwards.

“It's great to have a syndicate winner at The Festival. There are so many people involved in the paddock today, and I know lots more are watching at home.

“They've been terrific supporters of the stable, across the board and Flat and jumps as well. They keep pumping horses into us and I'm just delighted it's worked out like this for them on the big stage.

“I was sort of riding her for a place, because I was fully aware that there was a bit of depth to this race coming into this and she's been progressing slowly through sort of small six runner fields, and I wasn't sure how she was going to take the extra runners in the field. To be fair they've gone a really nice gallop, which just suited her nicely. I thought she jumped impeccably today and didn't miss a beat.

“I think a lot of them [in that race] have similar abilities and she's just very gutsy. And it's a lot of credit to the governor, he should take all of this because he's been very patient with her. We thought she was going to win the mare's novices' hurdle, back when she got an injury. Then last year, she never showed up for whatever reason, and the boss has just had to be patient with her and this year she's just been coming along nicely, which is great.

“In the closing stages, I knew there was enough space to go in between gaps and I wanted to give her something to sort of ease her way through, then hopefully get a nice one at the last. You're always going a slightly brave man's route there, and you're always hoping that the gaps appear.

“Luckily, she was travelling well enough that they did. I didn't know how much [Jack Kennedy on Queens Brook] had left, I couldn't really tell. But I thought if he missed the last and I had a nice jump, then that would put me right onto his girth and we could see where we were.

“I'm over the moon and now will be fully focused on tomorrow. Onwards and upwards.”

Tom Palin, representing winning owners Middleham Park Racing, said:

“That’s unbelievable. The syndicate deserved it as we had such heartbreak the week before the Mares’ Novice two years ago, when she was favourite and had a small fracture. I feel that’s redemption.

“Last season she came back in no kind of state and we couldn’t get to the bottom of it. We spent thousands trying to find out what was wrong with her, but we always held her in high regard, and she’s just come back completely different. Her work had been excellent and she’s just progressed all season. After she ran in the Greatwood, Nicky and I spoke and we said that now’s her time. She absolutely bolted up at Kempton, was then unlucky in the Lanzarote, and then she was very good at Warwick.

“I don’t want to say this was a surprise, but without wanting to sound arrogant we thought 18-1 was an insult. We thought she was a very good mare and she’s justified it.

“Junior won here for us in the Kim Muir, but a Grade One at Cheltenham is obviously a highlight. She’s our fiftieth pattern winner, and what a place to do it, with everyone here.”

Gordon Elliott, trainer of runner-up Queens Brook said:

“She ran very, very well - Jack [Kennedy] was delighted with her. Maybe softer ground would have suited her better, but she ran a great race, and the winner won well, so no excuses. The horses are running well - they’re hitting the cross-bar, but it will happen yet.”

Paul Nolan, trainer of third-placed Mrs Milner, said:

“Bryan (Cooper, jockey) thought he would have won. She was just coming into it lovely and he was praying the two in front wouldn’t miss it because he was going to wind it as he was meeting it perfectly but they came down and nearly wiped her out. She flew home.

“To come from a standstill and pick up the way she did she was very unlucky. She came back a little bit light from Newbury and we had no problem with just freshening her up for this. This was the plan and it has nearly paid off. We will have to go again. She is good enough to run against the mares and we know that. I just believe she was unlucky.

“The horses are in good health and when you come over with three runners when they run respectable it just takes the pressure off. It is great to analyse something that is worth analysing.”

David Greenway, spokesman for FB Racing Club, owners of fourth home and 7-2 favourite Stormy Ireland, said:

“I think we found the ground plenty quick enough and she got beat on the flat on that sort of ground. She has run we. She jumped a few quite big and wasn’t able to hold her position at the right time but Paul (Townend) still thought going to two out he had a chance but she got close to the last two and I’m not saying that cost us but it may have made a difference. If she winged the last two she might have been third.

“She owes us nothing and has been a fantastic mare for the 15 months or whatever it is we have had her. We are delighted to have her. It is special for us to be here at Cheltenham with a horse that had a real chance and she has got us back into the winner’s enclosure.

“We will have a discussion about Punchestown as she has her title to retain but she might well be covered now.”