'We’ve got three nice options on the table' - Bluey cut for Mares' Novice but festival tilt not guaranteed

Bluey was trimmed to 25-1 (from 33) with Paddy Power for the Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle after going one better than her Berkshire Winter Million second to Jubilee Alpha.

The Ben Jones-ridden six-year-old could have won the 2m½f mares’ novice hurdle by further than the seven and a half lengths she put between herself and Listed Cheltenham runner-up Siog Geal, but the comfortable success has not necessarily set up a tilt at next month’s festival.

“She’s an improving mare who’s thriving on her racing, which is a nice combination,” said trainer Emma Lavelle, who may wait for March 22 with her 117-rated daughter of Affinisea.

“She’s in at Cheltenham and after today I’m not going to rule that out at all,” said Lavelle. 

“One of the reasons for coming here was to get her qualified for the Mares’ EBF Final at Newbury; that’s on the same day as the Herring Queen Series Final up at Kelso which she’s also qualified for so we’ve got three nice options on the table.

“In fairness, the Herring Queen Is £100,000 and that’s a mares’ novice handicap, the Cheltenham race is £105,000 and that’s going to be more competitive and then you’ve got £55,000 at Newbury.”

Vie for victory

Ged Mason’s silks were worn to victory by Sam Twiston-Davies on Un Sens A La Vie in the bumper. 

The Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained winner is a £180,000 recruit owned by El Rincon, the group of Mason’s friends, including Sir Alex Ferguson, who have already enjoyed success from the Irish pointing sphere this season with the winner's stablemate Potters Charm.

Camino back on track

Camino Rocio bounced back from a rare blip at Taunton last time to make it four wins from five starts since joining Jim and Suzi Best, as he landed the 3m novice handicap chase under Sean Bowen.

Off the back of being pulled up over an inadequate 2m2f, the seven-year-old relished the return to this track where he completed a hat-trick for connections in November.

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