'It was nice to see her do that' - Queens Brook wins battle with Brandy Love to set up festival rematch

Queens Brook took advantage of the 9lb she received from Brandy Love to land a high-class running of the Grade 3 Quevega Mares Hurdle and put herself on course back to Cheltenham.

The Gordon Elliott-trained winner will attempt to go one better in the Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle next month having chased home Marie's Rock in 2022, and was cut to a best-priced 10-1 with BoyleSports after an authoritative success.

Jordan Gainford sent her on after the second-last, getting first run on Brandy Love and maintaining the advantage to the line to score by four and a half lengths, with Anna Bunina just getting up for second.

Gainford said: "Her form was rock-solid. She enjoyed it around there and I thought from the bend to the last hurdle she picked up very well. It was nice to see her do that, she's just very consistent."

A lot of the post-race comment surrounded Brandy Love on her first start since winning a Grade 1 at Fairyhouse last April. Her tendency to hang badly left last year when going right-handed was thought likely to hamper her on the sharp inside track here, but that did not appear to be the case. She went left at the final flight for the only time in the race and it was the lack of a run which seemed more of a factor.

Queens Brook and Jordan Gainford on their way to winning the Quevega Mares HurdleCredit: Patrick McCann

Brandy Love drifted to a best-priced 10-1 with BoyleSports for the Mares' Hurdle, but Willie Mullins was far from downcast, saying: “I'm very happy with that. She needed the run, she was only as forward as I thought she was which is why I ran her here.

"Paul [Townend] and I are very happy that she will come on a lot for this. I think she has improved from last year and I think we have enough time between now and Cheltenham to have her ready. The conditions of the race today suited the winner as well."

Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle (4.10, March 14)

Coral: 2 Honeysuckle, 3 Marie's Rock, 10-3 Epatante, 4 Love Envoi, 5 Echoes In Rain, 6 Brandy Love, 8 Queens Brook 10 Telmesomethinggirl, 12 Shewearsitwell, 16 bar

McConnell runner banned

John McConnell cut a very happy figure after the feature with Anna Bunina splitting Queens Brook and Brandy Love. She is likely to take up one of her four engagements at Cheltenham. As well as the Mares' Hurdle, she is also entered in the Coral Cup, County Hurdle and the Martin Pipe.

However, things were not as good for the trainer earlier in the afternoon after the stewards enquired into the running and riding of McConnell's Meritorious, who finished third under Thomas Reilly in the opening maiden hurdle, beaten 11 and a half lengths by the winner Soldier Solid.

After hearing the evidence, the stewards found Reilly was in breach of Rule 212 in that he had not ridden his horse to achieve his best possible placing. Reilly was suspended for ten days and ordered to forfeit his riding fee, while the horse was suspended for 42 days. McConnell was not sanctioned.

Connell on song

It is a big few weeks for Barry Connell and his star novice hurdlers Marine Nationale and Good Land, and both he and rider Michael O'Sullivan showed themselves in good form when Nine Graces landed the 2m6f mares' maiden hurdle.

Connell expressed his satisfaction with how his stable stars are progressing, saying: "They are both good. We have one last piece of work to do with them before they go and I couldn't be happier with them. They are both on track."

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