Henderson aims at Listed prize
Sunday 23 November 2014
Nicky Henderson is happy to support the OLBG Mares’ Hurdle by running Polly Peachum and Mayfair Music in a six-runner field for the Listed contest over an extended three miles at Kempton on Monday.
Polly Peachum is likely to be a warm order after she created a big impression with victory in a Wincanton handicap hurdle on her reappearance under the steadier of 11st 12lb, thoughHenderson expects ground conditions to be quite testing at the Sunbury venue.
“She came out of Wincanton well. It will be very soft ground and it will be tough going,” said the Seven Barrows trainer.
“These mares’ races are great and are good opportunities for the good mares. I think these are two good mares.
“Mayfair Music won well the last time, but then had to miss the rest of the season.It’s her first run back, but the ground might just find her out.”
While Mayfair Music has not raced since early March, Carole’s Spirit has not seen action since January, when she was second to Highland Retreat in the Grade Two OLBG.com Mares’ Hurdle at Ascot.
That race could again be on the agenda for Carole’s Spirit, who has to meet Polly Peachum on unfavourable terms because of a Listed success at Haydock in December.
“She’s in good form, but I’d say I don’t think we’ll beat Polly Peachum,” said her trainer Robert Walford.
“She won impressively last time and we’ve got a penalty as well, so we’ve got more weight but we’re rated lower.We’re hoping she’ll run well, but we’d be surprised if she could beatNicky’s horse.
“There’s a few mares’ races around and one at Ascot later on. It just depends on how she gets on at Kempton.”
Irish trainer Gordon Elliott sees this race as an opportunity to increase Clara Mc Cloud’s value as a broodmare.
The six-year-old has had a successful autumn campaign and was a winner of a handicap hurdle at Clonmel earlier this month.
The County Meath handler said: “We’re hoping we can sneak a bit of black type.It looks a competitive race, but we’re hoping she can run well.She’s in great form and if she can finish third, we’d be delighted.”
Alan King’s L’Unique and the Paul Henderson-trained Cnoc Seoda complete the sextet.
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