I was delighted to see COQUELICOT bounce back to form with a decisive success in a mares handicap hurdle at Chepstow on Wednesday in the colours of our yard sponsor Geegeez.co.uk. , who put together the syndicate that own her. Her name, pronounced Cock-lee-co, means poppy red, so very apt for a November winner.
Having won three bumpers two seasons ago she was undeniably frustrating last winter when she didn’t really jump with any fluency in all four starts over hurdles.
Perhaps it was a case of taking time for the penny to drop or maybe she just wasn’t travelling well enough in her races to really commit at her hurdles.
Whatever the reason Coquelicot’s schooling has been much better at home this autumn and she certainly looked the part on Wednesday, jumping fluently on soft ground she loves, and staying on stoutly to win by four and a half lengths from Roseisaroseisarose.
She had a nice spin on the flat a week ago and the race at Chepstow over three miles looked the perfect fit because she is all about stamina.
Rex Dingle rode a finely judged race from the front on Coquelicot who has plenty of options as she is a novice for the rest of the season.
She is extremely well bred, being a sister to two flat winners including Heartbreak City who finished second in the Melbourne Cup.
