UCANAVER doubled her score for the season with a spirited victory under a penalty in the Cazoo Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (Herring Queen Series Qualifier) at Ffos Las on Tuesday in the colours of the Ifuwonner Partnership.
Rex Dingle sensibly put her experience to good use by setting out to make the running and his mount was very professional, jumping like a handicapper, and finding more when the pack closed in going to the second last.
Rock Of Fame then emerged as a big danger at the final flight but Ucanaver was much quicker through the air, landed running and kept on willingly to win by three quarters of a length.
In gaining our 22nd success of the campaign she showed that she has a decent engine and could be interesting when we switch her attention to fences next winter.
Ucanaver is a delight to deal with and is now qualified for a £50,000 Mares’ Hurdle at Kelso on March 26 over two miles, so we will freshen her up for that.
A little further ahead I have entered SAM BROWN for the Grand National on April 9. He is rated 149 after his great run when just beaten in a tight finish by Royal Pagaille at Haydock last month and deserves a shot at the race if the ground is suitably soft.
