Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Queen has the Brook of success
EXCITING mare Queens Brook should make a successful hurdling debut in today’s Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden Hurdle in Fairyhouse.
The daughter of
Shirocco, trained by Gordon Elliott for Noel and Valerie Moran, graduated from the point-to-point field, where she won on her second start in Dromahane for
Aida Fitzgerald.
And she created a huge impression when bolting-up on her racecourse debut at Gowran Park in mid-february, scooting home 21 lengths clear of Nelly’s Money.
Having weighed-up a series of options for the five-year-old, Elliott decided to throw her in at the deep end, in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper (Grade 1) at Cheltenham in March.
Sent off at just 6/1, she came through to hold every chance turning for home before failing to cope with the Willie Mullins-trained pair Ferny Hollow and Appreciate It, beaten less than six lengths.
That was an excellent performance on only her second start, proof that Elliott’s charge has the potential to prove a real force over obstacles. And she should start to realise that potential by landing the odds here.
Elliott introduces 137-rated hurdler Surin to fences in the opening mares beginners chase, a race he won with Tintangle, also owned by Gigginstown House Stud, last year.
A Grade 3 winner over flights, Surin was last seen when setting a strong pace before finishing in rear in a Grade 3 event won by Elfile at Punchestown in February.
But I’ll oppose the Cullentra mare with Gavin Cromwell’s Jeremys Flame, rated just 1lb inferior to Surin over hurdles, built to be a chaser and boasting a second to Fiddlerontheroof in the Grade 1 Tolworth at Sandown last January.
And Paul Hennessy’s Grade 1 placed Heaven Help Us looks sure to step forward from her recent chase debut second to Zarkareva in Sligo.