The Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle has switched from the domain of Willie Mullins to that of British trainers in the last few years. After the past week’s efforts, Matty Sutcliffe believes the prize may remain on home soil once again…
Mares Novices’ Hurdle – Metkayina 25/1 1pt WIN
The Brits have overhauled the dominance of the Irish in the Mares Novices’ Hurdle of late, taking the last three editions and METKAYINA can continue that success. The daughter of Diamond Boy made her debut for Noel Williams and the Noel Fehily Racing Syndicate in the G2 Mares Bumper at the Aintree Festival in the spring, running an excellent race to be beaten six lengths into fourth behind the well fancied Diva Luna. The second and fifth have already come out and finished first/ second in a Listed Mares contest at Newbury, with the winner now 16s for the Mares, and the third, tenth and thirteenth have all come out and franked the form as well with the tenth also taking listed honours last time out. The Aintree bumper threw up the winner of the Mares last season with Golden Ace who was second to Dysart Enos, and there’s a strong chance that can happen this time around.
Metkayina made her hurdles debut against the geldings at Lingfield last month, beaten a length by the 11/8F It’s Hard To Know who backed up that form with a winner under 7lbs penalty next time out. She was understandably fresh enough there, but she duly came on for the run when reversing the form with Diva Luna down in trip at Lingfield a shade cosily.
Connections have waxed lyrical about their £100,000 buy, and the syndicate won the Mares’ Novice with Love Envoi in 2022. I like the fact that she showed the ability to stay a touch further than the Mares’ trip, but still has enough speed to win going away over two miles against a G2 Aintree Bumper winner as that’s the exact blend of speed and stamina required to take a top level novice at the Festival. She’s a big mare with a progressive profile, and I’d imagine connections will try her in black type company next time out en-route to the Festival to see where they stand with her.
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