You Wear It Well remains on track for another attempt at Cheltenham Festival success in the Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle despite a defeat at Doncaster last weekend.
Under Jamie Snowden's training, the mare showcased her top form as a novice at Prestbury Park, leading from start to finish to triumph over 20 competitors in a Grade Two race last March, winning at 16-1 odds with Gavin Sheehan as the jockey.
This season began with a victory over Luccia at Wetherby in a two-mile race before suffering a significant loss as the favourite in the rescheduled Fighting Fifth at Sandown.
Snowden then decided to increase the mare‘s distance to over three miles in the Warfield Mares' Hurdle, altering her strategy to a more reserved approach early in the race.
You Wear It Well advanced to challenge Marie's Rock at the last hurdle but was ultimately outpaced by the 2022 Mares' Hurdle champion in the final stretch.
Snowden reflected, acknowledging the superiority of Marie's Rock under those conditions, highlighting it was the mare's initial attempt at that distance, and the faster ground could have been better. The race was a sprint, where You Wear It Well had to cover significant ground.
Despite the odds, with Marie's Rock holding a 150 rating compared to her 140 and carrying equal weight, the defeat by a margin of one and a half lengths signified a commendable effort. Snowden expressed satisfaction with the performance, considering it a valuable preparation for the upcoming Mares' Hurdle, with a potential lead-up race in Warwick on February 10 being considered.