Mar 2024
Memorable Mares of the Grade 2 British EBF BetVictor Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle
Ahead of this weekend’s Grade 2 British EBF BetVictor Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle, we’re looking back at three memorable performances from years gone by
#1 – Roksana
Grade 1 winning hurdler Roksana won Newbury’s Grade 2 feature in 2018 under Bridget Andrews.
Trained by Bridget’s brother-in-law Dan Skelton for owner Mrs Sarah Faulks, Roksana earned over £280,000 throughout her career. Sent off an 8/1 chance at Newbury, she won the 2m4 1/2f contest by two and three-quarter lengths to Kalahari Queen, trained by Jamie Snowden and ridden by Gavin Sheehan. The 6/1 favourite, Oscar Rose, trained by Fergal O’Brien and ridden by Paddy Brennan finished back in 6th.
Following her Newbury run, Roksana went on to finish one and a half lengths behind Santini in the Grade 1 Sefton Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree the following month. At the 2019 Cheltenham Festival, Roksana landed her sole Grade 1 victory in the OLBG Mares’ Hurdle, providing her trainer Dan Skelton with his first Grade 1 winner.
Having won 33% of her career starts, Roksana retired in 2021 through injury to begin a career as a broodmare.
To watch the finishing stages of the race, please click on the image below.
#2 – Annie Mc
Annie Mc, trained by Jonjo O’Neill for the Coral Champions Club, was ridden to victory by Jonjo O’Neill Jr in the 2019 renewal of the Grade 2 Mares’ “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle.
The popular mare, the winner of £124,000 in prize money across her career, landed an eight length victory in the feature race of Newbury’s BetVictor Jumps Season Finale. She was sent off at odds of 8/1 with 5/1 favourite She Mite Bite trained by Nicky Henderson pulled up by jockey Nico de Boinville.
Annie Mc was a firm favourite of Coral Racing Club ambassador and television personality Chris Hughes. Having been retired in 2023 after landing seven victories, Annie Mc began a new career as a broodmare after visiting National Hunt stallion No Risk At All.
Her career as a broodmare will mark a new chapter for The Coral Racing Club.
To watch the feature, please click on the image below.
#3 – Snow Leopardess
Snow Leopardess, a homebred mare by the Fox-Pitt family, was trained by the Cotswolds based Charlie Longsdon.
Sent off 7/1 joint favourite, she landed a four length victory in Newbury’s Grade 2 Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle Finale in 2017 under Aidan Coleman. Joint-favourite, Copper Kay, trained by Philip Hobbs and ridden by Richard Johnson, finished a well beaten second.
As well as her Grade 2 victory at Newbury, her most notable career success came when winning the 2021 Beecher Chase at Aintree, becoming the first mare to do so.
The mare famously had a foal part way through her racing career when recovering from injury. Her first progeny, Red Panda, is also in training with Longsdon who made her racecourse debut in November 2023.
The popular grey, who amassed nearly £250,000 in prize money, was retired from racing in October 2023 to continue her career as a broodmare.
To watch the finishing stages of the race, please click on the image below.
The Grade 2 British EBF BetVictor Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle takes place this Saturday for BetVictor Jumps Season Finale.
You can find out more info and purchase tickets for the last Jumps meeting of the 23/24 season by clicking the button below.