18th Jan
SKYACE (20/1) will head straight to the Festival. The ex-Mullins bumper cost just €600 at Tatts Ireland, having failed to win three bumpers for WM. She joined Shark Hanlon and has won four times including a G3 at Down Royal and a Listed race at Punchestown by 5l under a penalty. The G3 looked a little lucky, which is why she was 28/1 at Punchestown. If she were with Gordon, Jessica or Henry she’d be shorter than 33/1. She’s been given a break since then (20th Dec) and has thrived over Christmas.
THE GLANCING QUEEN (14/1) may be aimed at The G2 Mares Novice Hurdle rather than the G1 Mares Hurdle. (50/1) A high-class bumper horse and a very creditable third in the Grade 1 Challow Hurdle at Newbury 16 days earlier, she won easily at Bangor on 14th Jan under her penalty, strolling clear from the last to supplement her November Warwick win. She was 8th in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham last March, and she probably does more at home. King said: “She was fine after her run at Bangor. I don’t know where we will go now, but I’d imagine we will try to find something next month. She is entered in the 2½m Mares’ race at Cheltenham – but she is not slow, and she might be better against the novices, and I’m probably favouring that at the moment.”