Roksana standing in the way of Magic Of Light's hat-trick bid

1.15 Ascot
Matchbook Betting Podcast Mares' Hurdle | 2m7½f | Grade 2 | 4yo+ | ITV4/Sky

Getting there might not have been easy, but winning is going to be even tougher.

The 2019 Grand National runner-up Magic Of Light will become only the second Irish-trained horse to run in Britain since the UK left the European Union and Jessica Harrington admitted the paperwork for the Department of Agriculture, and the vets bills to complete the necessary forms, were "seriously annoying". But Magic Of Light has successfully made her way to Ascot and the hat-trick attempt is on.

Harrington bemoans 'seriously annoying' paperwork for sending runners to Britain

Last year, she scooted away from Sensulano and posted a Racing Post rating of 150, while in 2019 she was much too good for Jester Jet.

Those she conquered in 2019 and 2020 were good horses, but none as talented as Roksana, so Harrington is well aware of the magnitude of the task.

She said: "Magic Of Light is great. She's got to Ascot and, by all accounts, she's in great form. We take her on the same route each season now, so we were always coming here after Newbury. My big concern is the ground. She's a better mare on better ground, but you would hope that as she gets older she might handle it better."

Official ratings suggest Magic Of Light faces a very tricky task indeed. Her hurdles mark of 149 is 4lb inferior to Roksana who comes into the contest on the back of a cracking run in the Grade 1 Long Walk Hurdle when third behind Paisley Park and Thyme Hill.

Dan Skelton said of Roksana: "I'm very happy with her. That was a great run in the Long Walk, and I've been pleased with her at home since."

The ex-Willie Mullins-trained Eglantine Du Seuil should not be underestimated either and Paul Nicholls is hopeful she will see out this new trip.

It's worth remembering that she beat Concertista at the 2019 Cheltenham Festival, after which Noel Fehily announced his retirement, and should she return to that sort of form, she would be a major player getting 6lb from her two main rivals.

Nicholls said: "She ran very well at Cheltenham over two and a half miles, staying on strongly. If she gets the trip, she'll run well."

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