Banjaxed Girl showed there are few tougher staying mares in the jumping world when putting a rare flop behind her with a convincing success in the 32Red.com Mares’ Hurdle at Sandown.
On ground described as testing by most of the jockeys that rode in the two-and-a-half-mile Listed race, Banjaxed Girl made every yard and toughed it out as she found more when threatened by 20-1 outsider Alasi approaching the final flight.
Sam Twiston-Davies had something up his sleeve and when he asked his mount for more, the 6-4 favourite pulled further clear to score by two and a half lengths. It was another three-quarters of a length back to the third, Silver Gypsy.
With trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies at Chepstow, his representative said: “She was very good today and put her Cheltenham run behind her back in her own grade. I think she just had an off-day last time, and remains on course for the David Nicholson race at the Festival.”
The winning rider praised his mount, saying: “She was in a tough race last time but she thrives on hard work and showed her true colours today. When something comes to her she just keeps finding extra.”
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