'She battled and answered every question' - Marie's Rock books Cheltenham spot

Saturday: Warwick

Day one of the Cheltenham Festival could be a memorable one for the 22 owners in Middleham Park Racing’s Marie’s Rock as she teed up a tilt at the Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle with Listed-race success.

The Nicky Henderson-trained seven-year-old was badly hampered early in the Lanzarote last time but bounced back to her best when beating Get A Tonic and 2020 winner Indefatigable in the Virgin Bet Warwick Mares’ Hurdle.

Marie’s Rock, who was cheered on by 13 of her owners, was shortened to 12-1 (from 20) for the Mares’ Hurdle with Paddy Power and will also have an entry in the Coral Cup, for which she was cut to 16-1 (from 33) with the sponsors.

Tom Palin, partner and National Hunt manager for Middleham Park Racing, said: “We’ve always rated her but her career has been a bit stop start, so it’s brilliant to see her back at this level. She had no luck in the Lanzarote but it toughed it out well here.

“She really battled and answered every question. She’s in the Mares’ Hurdle and will probably be entered in the Coral Cup, but the former is probably more likely. She’s earned her right to have a go; we’ve been working back from there this season and it’s a wide-open race.”

Plate aim

Celebre D’Allen is another horse heading to Cheltenham with Philip Hobbs targeting the Paddy Power Plate with the 2m4f handicap chase winner.

The Allan Stennett-owned ten-year-old is 3-3 since joining the Somerset trainer and finished strongly to win by three-quarters of a length under Tom O’Brien on his first chase start in Britain. He was made 8-1 co-favourite (from 14) for the Plate with Sky Bet.

Philip Hobbs: 'We thought if he didn’t run today he probably wasn’t going to get in, but he will now'Credit: Edward Whitaker

Hobbs said: “He did it well and stayed on strongly in the straight. He’s progressing nicely and hopefully will run in the Plate at the festival. We thought if he didn’t run today he probably wasn’t going to get in, but he will now.”

Fantastic five

In Rem sealed a handicap hurdle five-timer since joining Jane Williams when landing the 3m2f contest under the trainer's son Chester.

The progressive seven-year-old was a landmark winner for owners Chasing Gold Racing Club, who celebrated a record ninth success for the season.

The winning rider said: "Mum and the team have done a great job with him. He was very babyish early on but started on a nice, low handicap mark and has continued to improve. He's been below the Pertemps qualifier rating band but might just be worth a go in one of those now."

Landmark success

Jonathan Burke hit the half century for the first time in his career after bookending the card on Fair Frontieres in the 2m5f novice hurdle for Kim Bailey and Gaelic Park, a recent recruit for Charlie Longsdon, in the bumper.

Burke said: "It's great to hit fifty. I've got close a couple of times but this has been my best season and hopefully I can keep the momentum going."

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