'She has a proper little engine' - Morrison sets Miss Austen black type mission

Fitzdares Club Adores Henrietta Knight Mares’ Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race (Listed) | 2m | 4yo-6yo | RTV

This race features a clutch of talented, lightly raced mares headed by the Hughie Morrison-trained Miss Austen, who created a fine impression when successful at Ludlow 11 months ago.

The daughter of Fame And Glory finished her race off in excellent style to slam Rainyday Woman by nine and a half lengths and looks to have a bright future.

Bumper form is notoriously hard to quantify at this stage of the season, but Miss Austen does appear to set the standard based on that performance.

Rainyday Woman, who has since moved from Pam Sly to Paul Nicholls, reopposes on the same terms.

Those who fancy her to turn the tables with Miss Austen will base their case on the mare having improved for the change of stable – a fluent Stratford win last month adds weight to that argument – and her superior race-fitness.

Jersey Lady fared particularly well for a 33-1 shot in the Cheltenham Listed Bumper last month won by Elle Est Belle considering she was up with the pace from the outset. She clearly has a decent level of ability.

Blue Sans, a well-backed winner of a Warwick bumper last month, hails from a pointing background and will surely do better when stepped up in trip over hurdles in due course.

Flirtatious Girl, Nina The Terrier and Speech Bubble all defend unbeaten records in a race which appears to have significant strength in depth.
Race analysis by Richard Birch

What they say

Kim Bailey, trainer of Flirtatious Girl
She won nicely on her debut at Warwick last month but the form has been let down since, so we go there more in hope than confidence. Hopefully, she can pick up some black type.

Oliver Sherwood, trainer of Jersey Lady
She ran an absolute blinder to finish third at this level at Cheltenham last time, but I don't know if she'll be as effective around this flatter track. She has a lively each-way chance and any further rain won't harm her chances.

Michael Scudamore, trainer of Karlie
It looks a competitive race but she won very well at Taunton last time and deserves a crack at this. On the bare form she probably has to step up, but if she could nick a bit of black type that would be lovely.

Hughie Morrison, trainer of Miss Austen
We had planned to run her in the Aintree bumper in April until lockdown came in and she has a proper little engine on her. She's been off since January, so it depends if she's fit enough, but black type is the plan.

Stuart Edmunds, trainer of My Girl Lollipop
She's taking on Blue Sans again who she finished second to at Warwick first time, but I reckon she would have nearly won had she been ridden handier. It's a tough race but she won't be disgraced.

Paul Nicholls: saddles the promising Rainyday WomanCredit: Edward Whitaker

Paul Nicholls, trainer of Rainyday Woman
She was bought privately before winning for us first time at Stratford and on that showing goes there with a nice chance. It's a tough race but she should run well and won't mind any further ease in the ground.

Tom Bellamy, rider of Nina The Terrier
She gave our conditional, Max Browne, his first winner at Doncaster and she's a nice mare. She takes on a string of other previous winners but hopefully can get in the mix and get some black type along the way.

Noel Williams, trainer of Speech Bubble
She was impressive when winning on her debut at Ffos Las, where it was proper heavy, so any further rain would play to her strengths. Obviously, it's a much better race and it's hard to compare the form, but she goes there with a decent shout.
Reporting by David Milnes

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