Desert Queen bids to prove too hot again after Leicester romp

3.30 Huntingdon
188Bet Lady Protectress Mares' Chase | Listed |2m4f | RUK

Desert Queen, who romped home by ten lengths in a similar Listed mares' chase at Leicester in January, bids to follow up under the same 10lb penalty she carried that day.

The feature contest was originally programmed for the meeting of February 23 at the Cambridgeshire track, but was salvaged after that fixture was a victim of Storm Doris.

Trained by Harry Fry, Desert Queen is out to bag a third victory in the mares' series and is rated 14lb superior to anything else in the race .

Not surprisingly, her jockey Noel Fehily is expecting another good show, and he said: "Desert Queen was very impressive at Leicester last time and we're hoping they get the rain they say is coming, as she likes it proper soft. If she turns up in the same form she'll taking plenty of beating."

Her biggest threat could come from Irish raider Colla Pier, who finished second to Kalane in one of the series races at Doncaster in December and will be bidding to make amends for her compatriot Gitane Du Berlais, who was turned over at 1-2 in this contest last year

'Hopefully she can bag black type'

Of the others in the seven-strong line-up, the 2016 third and fourth, Kilronan High and Kassis, are back for another crack.

Nigel Twiston-Davies, trainer of Kilronan High, said: "We've all got Desert Queen to beat, but she ran well in it last year and hopefully we can get her on some nice ground. Hopefully she can bag some more black type."

Jamie Snowden is on the same mission with Kassis, and the trainer said: "She's in great form at home but has a bit to do on the ratings against Desert Queen. If he she can finish third and get some black type it would be job done."

The local challenge comes from Peterborough-based Pam Sly, who fields recent Catterick winner Actinpieces.

She said: "She was third in a Listed race at Sandown in the heavy, so won't mind if it rains further. We're hopeful of another good showing after she bounced back to form last time. It's competitive, but she deserves to take her chance."

The Paul Nicholls-trained Antartica De Thaix, who was left clear at the last when winning by no fewer than 49 lengths at Bangor last time, and Neil Mulholland-trained Pass The Time complete the line-up.