Carole’s Spirit took advantage of being gifted a very soft lead to land the Listed OLBG Mares’ Hurdle at Kempton.
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Carole’s Spirit, ridden by Daryl Jacob, takes the final flight clear of her rivals.
Sent off a largely unconsidered 11/1 chance for the extended three-mile contest, Daryl Jacob took the bull by the horns with a positive ride after none of the other jockeys looked keen to make the running after the tape went up.
In fact it was some 15 seconds after the ‘start’ before the horses broke into a canter at which point Carole’s Spirit was sent on to make the running.
The Robert Walford-trained six-year-old had a 12-length lead for most of the first circuit and Jacob ultimately kept enough in reserve to see off Gordon Elliott’s Clara Mc Cloud by eight lengths.
On what was proving to be a hugely disappointing day for trainer Nicky Henderson, his 8/11 market leader Polly Peachum was under pressure soon after turning into the straight and slithered to the ground under Barry Geraghty after making a mess of the final flight.
Walford said: “Paul (Murphy, owner) likes having mares to win these races.
“Halfway round I was very satisfied, it was ideal.
“There’s a Grade Two at Ascot for her, she’s quite good fresh so we’ll go straight there, and then the plan will be Cheltenham if things go well.”
Jacob admitted making the running wasn’t part of the original plan but was happy to set his own fractions out in front.
He said: “It wasn’t something we wanted to do beforehand because she gets a little bit idle in front and jumps to her right.
“I didn’t really want to do it but we just wanted an even gallop and we were able to get a cheap lead.”
Sky Bet make the winner a 10/1 chance for the OLBG Mares’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March.
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