I was delighted to see COQUELICOT (pronounced “cock-lee-co” !!) gain a fluent success from the front in the Mariner Systems Mares’ Handicap Hurdle at Ascot on Saturday under a lovely ride from Rex Dingle.
We’ve always thought a fair bit of this attractive mare since her rewarding bumper campaign. But she took her time to adjust to hurdles the following season and was never quite right last winter after getting off the mark at Chepstow in November.
Coquelicot, who is owned by our yard sponsor geegeez.co.uk, has been much healthier since she came back into training and ran with plenty of promise when fourth on the flat at Nottingham last month.
So we were hopeful of a decent show at Ascot where she jumped well in the lead before quickening smartly off the final bend and stretching clear to beat the 6-4 favourite Glimpse Of Gala by three and a quarter lengths.
Coquelicot is going the right way now, is clearly talented and I was really pleased with the way she handled the quicker ground on Saturday.
She could run again at Cheltenham next month, while further ahead I believe she can be competitive on the flat in staying handicaps.
