Key questions as Marie's Rock bids to build on promising start for Henderson

2.25 TauntonByerley Stud Mares' Novices' Hurdle (Listed) | 2m½f | 3yo+| Sky

Does Henderson have another smart mare on his hands?

Epatante became Champion Hurdle favourite after an impressive Christmas Hurdle win on Thursday. Now stablemate Marie’s Rock could put herself in the frame for the Dawn Run Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at the festival.

Middleham Park Racing's filly is unbeaten in two races and was earmarked for this race straight after her winning debut over hurdles at Haydock earlier this month.

Marie’s Rock: impressed when making a winning debut over hurdles at HaydockCredit: Grossick Racing

"Nico de Boinville has been getting more and more impressed with her and when I watch her Haydock race I'm struggling to find a flaw," said Tom Palin, the owners' racing manager.

"This is a tough race with the good mares in novice company coming together but she's unbeaten and there aren’t many options for her.

"There is a two-mile-two race at Haydock but her biggest asset is her speed and the Cheltenham Festival race is two miles."

KEY STATISTIC: The last five runnings have been won by a five-year-old. The only mares of that age in this field are Deja Vue and Silver Forever.

Can Deja Vue make up for lost time?

Having won twice by an aggregate of 51 lengths at Ffos Las, Deja Vue was due to run in Listed company at Haydock before Christmas only to be pulled out on the day.

"She had a little knock and had to miss Haydock but she's spot on now and in good form," said trainer Anthony Honeyball, who is looking forward to this belated step up in class.

"It looks a very strong race on paper but she has every chance on ratings as she’s on 135 and she gets 3lb from a couple of them so I hope she'll be in the mix.

"The softer the ground the better for her. I’d like it bottomless."

Can Midnights' Gift break new ground against her elders?

No three-year-old has won this race in seven runnings and only one has even tried – Dolores Delightful, who finished fourth in 2013.

But Midnights' Gift has already proved herself in Listed company, collecting a juvenile fillies' event at Aintree on Becher Chase day.

That followed success on her hurdling debut at Fakenham and trainer Alan King said: "She’s two from two and she's decent.

Midnights' Gift (grey): struck at Aintree and faces her elders for the first timeCredit: Grossick Racing

"There isn’t much else for her until Doncaster at the end of January so I thought we’d see how she gets on against her elders.

"I hope the ground will continue to dry out but it will be tough for her."

Racing Post tipster Richard Birch's expert verdict

The Listed mares’ chase at Doncaster provided a thrilling finish between three richly talented performers, and it will be no surprise if Taunton racegoers are treated to something similar in this Listed mares’ hurdle.

Silver Forever, a winner at Chepstow and Newbury this season, sets the standard, but she faces intense competition from at least three other exciting prospects and is by no means unbeatable.

The Nicky Henderson-trained Marie’s Rock brings an unbeaten record to Somerset following wins at Ffos Las and Haydock and has the potential to improve past Silver Forever.

Deja Vue needs to raise her game again following an impressive all-the-way Ffos Las victory in handicap company off a mark of 122, but could well do so on testing ground. Some will bank on her proving hard to catch.

And don’t dismiss the chances of the three-year-old Midnights’ Gift, winner of her two starts at Fakenham and Aintree in the manner of a mare destined for better things.

It’s simply a cracker of a race, and well worth taking ten minutes off work to watch.

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