Pearl Of The West aims to sparkle at Ayr

Pearl Of The West has the Scottish Champion Hurdle as her aim after an encouraging run at Dundalk.

John Mcconnell’s mare last ran over hurdles at Cheltenham in October, when she beat Alan King’s Redicean. The five-yearold returned from a fivemonth break to outrun her odds on the all-weather, finishing second in a mileand-a-half handicap.

Mcconnell said: “She ran on Friday at Dundalk and ran a really nice race. It was a lovely comeback run and she should improve from it.

“The plan for her now is to go for the Scottish Champion Hurdle at Ayr in two weeks. It’s a handicap, so she should have a nice weight in it.”

Mcconnell,whoishoping conditions will suit, added: “She should get her ground, and going left-handed on a flat track is something she should enjoy as well.

“I think she is entitled to go for that race anyway, and we’ll see how she is after that. I’d love to get some black type of some form or another with her, but a lot depends on what happens in Ayr.”