Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
PARFECT DAY
Don’t miss out on Honeyball’s flying mare Msparfois in Ladbrokes Trophy test
MS PARFOIS (nap) can leave the boys in her wake in the Ladbrokes Trophy (3.00, ITV4) at Newbury.
Anthony Honeyball’s mare impressed in her first campaign over fences last winter, racking up a hat-trick of wins at Cheltenham, Newbury and Warwick.
And Ms Parfois emerged with plenty of credit with second placings on her final three starts of the season. Black Corton
Beaten by in the Reynoldstown Chase at Ascot in February, the daughter of Mahler went under by
half a length to Rathvinden in the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham the following month, and signed off with another silver medal behind Terrefort in Aintree’s Grade 1 Mildmay Novices’ Chase in April.
A bold-jumping, strong-staying sort who relishes cut in the ground, Ms Parfois can become only the second female — after Kerstin in 1959 — to capture the race that began life as the Hennessy Gold Cup two years earlier.
Elegant Escape beat
Thomas Patrick by half a length at Sandown 20 days ago and seeks to confirm his superiority on 5lb worse terms.
Both horses are feared, while American and The Young Master are also on the shortlist.
At bigger odds, Nigel Twiston-davies’ Flying Angel ran a fine second to Mr Medic in a two-mile, five-furlong handicap chase at Ascot last time and is worth another try over five furlongs further today.