In-form O'Brien looks to Colin's Sister to capture mares' prize

2.40 Sandown

Weatherbys GSB Goes Online Jane Seymour Mares' Novices' Hurdle | Grade 2 | 2m4f, 4yo+ fillies and mares | RUK

Fergal O'Brien is enjoying his best season and will record the biggest win of his career, in Pattern terms at least, if Colin's Sister can concede weight to her four rivals.

The six-year-old, schooled by the trainer's builder brother David before her hurdling debut, has contributed three of O'Brien's 51 wins this term, which also include a Grade 3 handicap hurdle victory for Lord Of The Island at Sandown this month.

Among those Colin's Sister gives weight to is Happy Diva, a horse rated her equal according to the BHA handicappers.

What they say

Fergal O'Brien, trainer of Colin's Sister
She's in good form and the ground and trip will hopefully be fine so fingers crossed. It wasn't the plan to give her a mid-season break, it was just the way the races worked out for her. She was in a couple of other places that didn't pan out so we've waited for this. If she runs well we'll look at the festival - she's in a few races there.

Kerry Lee, trainer of Happy Diva
She's back down to two and a half miles and I think that trip and track will really suit her. She wasn't disgraced last time against the boys, but the others have to be respected and you've always got to take notice when Malcolm Jefferson travels south.

Malcolm Jefferson, trainer of Kelka
The last two runners I've sent south have both finished last so I'm hoping for something better! She's in great shape and has run well all season, even last time with two penalties. Brian [Hughes] and I thought this was a good race to run her in and see where we are with her. She's not easy to place but is quite nice and has done very little wrong. We're going there hoping to run a big race and bring the prize back north.

Anthony Honeyball, trainer of Ms Parfois
Being a novice, it's a good track for her and with the ground soft it's a good race to target. Her rating's crept up to 125 so we're in the ballpark of having a go, although we're still slightly wrong at the weights. She's a big, strong mare who stays really well, will love the hill and handles the ground. Colin's Sister beat us quite well at Haydock and I think the handicapper had us on 119 after that and now we're 125 after winning at Warwick so according to him we've improved, but to me it was more workmanlike. She had to do the donkey work that day so hopefully there's a horse who stays as well as she does and wants to make it an even gallop. This is her Gold Cup.

Nicky Henderson, trainer of Theatre Territory
She's in good form and we thought she might have won the other day at Newbury [when falling two out]. We're back in a Grade 2 and it's a very good race so it'll be competitive.