Mare lines up for a meeting with Logician after the surprise victory.
Stainsby Girl caused an upset by outpacing the hot favourite You Wear It Well at the Listed Virgin Bet Every Saturday Money Back Mares’ Hurdle in Haydock. The Cheltenham Festival star, You Wear It Well, was expected to dominate at 1-2 odds, following notable finishes in the Grade One Fighting Fifth and a Grade Two race at Doncaster. However, jockey Gavin Sheehan struggled to keep up the pace, and the favourite finished a distant third.
Trained by Nick Alexander and ridden by his son, Kit, Stainsby Girl showcased her skills after a fifth-place finish at Doncaster. Leading from the front, she triumphed by 12 lengths over Coquelicot. Alexander expressed his joy at the mare's victory, highlighting her first black type win at the age of 10. He mentioned that Stainsby Girl will soon retire for breeding purposes and hinted at a potential meeting with Logician in the future.
On the same card, Now Is The Hour, trained by Gavin Cromwell and ridden by Sean Flanagan, dominated the Grade Two Albert Bartlett Prestige Novices’ Hurdle. The Limerick winner, at 12-1 odds, surged ahead early and won comfortably by 17 lengths. Flanagan praised the horse's performance on the challenging ground and acknowledged the trainer's expertise in preparing the horse for success.
Elsewhere, Regal Blue, the 11-4 favourite, delivered a determined performance in the Virgin Bet Daily Extra Places Handicap Chase under jockey Nick Schofield. After a setback at Lingfield, the seven-year-old bounced back to win by three lengths, showcasing his resilience and suitability to the ground conditions.
In the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle, Cuthbert Dibble, trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies and ridden by Finn Lambert, maintained his unbeaten record for the season. The 6-4 favourite displayed an impressive performance, with assistant trainer Willy Twiston-Davies hinting at future chasing prospects for the talented horse.