Marie's Rock`s new target is Royal Ascot

Middleham Park Racing's Marie's Rock aims to continue her successful hurdling career on the Flat by targeting Royal Ascot for her next race. The nine-year-old recently made her Flat debut at York in the Bronte Cup, finishing fifth under jockey Jim Crowley. Despite a slow start, she showed promise by passing five competitors towards the end of the race.

With graded victories at Cheltenham, Punchestown, and Doncaster over hurdles, connections are optimistic about Marie's Rock's potential on the Flat. She is set to compete in the Queen Alexandra Stakes at Royal Ascot, with the Pontefract Castle Fillies' Stakes on June 23 also being considered as an alternative.

This switch to Flat racing is not a one-time occurrence, as plans are in place for Marie's Rock to compete in future black-type races in the summer before returning to hurdling. Middleham Park Racing's Tom Palin expressed confidence in her ability to excel on the Flat and potentially secure wins and black-type titles.

Despite the varying distances of potential races, including the Queen Alexandra and the Pontefract Castle Fillies' Stakes, Marie's Rock is expected to perform well under the guidance of jockey Jim Crowley. Ground conditions will also play a crucial role in race selection, with the team considering options at Ascot and potentially leading to races like the Lillie Langtry at Goodwood.

Overall, there are numerous opportunities for Marie's Rock to showcase her skills in fillies-only staying races on the Flat this season, providing an exciting new chapter in her racing career.