'She'll take some stopping' - Gordon Elliott bullish about Mares' Hurdle second

Saturday: 3.00 Limerick
Irish Stallion Farms EBF Cailin Alainn Mares' Hurdle (Listed) | 2m6f100y | 4yo+ | ITV4/RTV

All roads lead back to the Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle at Cheltenham for Queens Brook and the first pit stop on that journey is at Limerick where the seven-year-old is likely to be odds-on to land the fourth win of her career.

Queens Brook hit a low of 4-5 in running on Betfair at the festival last season when leading over the last, but she was collared late by Marie's Rock.

Gordon Elliott has made no secret that the same race will be her ultimate aim this season, and he thinks she'll be a big player.

"Queens Brook is a lovely mare," Elliott said. "Given the preparation she had going into Cheltenham last season, she ran some race to finish second.

"We're going to aim her at that race again and, if we get a clear run into it with her, she'll take some stopping. She seems to be in very good form at home and I'm very happy with her."

It should be a straightforward assignment for Queens Brook, whom Jordan Gainford rides for the first time, as she is rated at least 8lb superior to her rivals. She does, however, face a former Cheltenham Festival winner in Heaven Help Us, who won the Coral Cup in 2021.

She may be 0-7 since that runaway festival success under Richie Condon, but she has been plying her trade in very good company and even took on the mighty Honeysuckle in last season's Irish Champion Hurdle. She finished sixth, eight lengths behind Queens Brook in the mares' hurdle at Cheltenham in March.

Trainer Paul Hennessy said: "It's always an exciting time when you're bringing this mare to the races. She's been incredible over the years and she seems to be in great form at home.

"She's summered very well, almost too well, and she's a bit like her trainer in that she's a great grubber! She loves her food. She seems very well in herself and we're looking forward to seeing how she gets on. It won't be easy taking on Gordon's mare [Queens Brook] but bring it on!"

Heaven Help Us is generally a 33-1 shot for the mares' hurdle on the opening day of the 2023 Cheltenham Festival, while Queens Brook is 10-1 to go one better than last season.

Close Brothers Mares Hurdle (March 14)
Ladbrokes: 5 Epatante, Brandy Love, 6 Marie's Rock, 10 Queens Brook, Love Envoi, Telmesomethinggirl, 12 Echoes In Rain, 14 bar

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