By George, Marie's Rock is Back!
Mon 27 Dec 2021
WINNER 108 OF 2021: MARIE'S ROCK, trained by Nicky Henderson OBE and ridden by Adrian Heskin: 'The Ladbrokes We Play Together Handicap Hurdle,' over 2m 5f at Kempton, on Boxing Day.
Already a Listed hurdle winner and Grade 2 placed, it was another exciting day for her owners to have her running on one of the biggest race days - King George day, at Kempton Park on Boxing Day!
Knowing that she can be keen in her races, Adrian took a hold of her and held up in rear. Jumping well, she began to make headway on the outer from 3 out and coming around the home turn. Still going easily, after the second last she took the lead, engaged the after burners and went clear, just hitting the final flight, but still won readily by 7 lengths - her fourth career win from 8 starts.
"Marie's Rock takes the finale at Kempton." Watch the full race replay here: https://www.racingtv.com/videos/watch/horse_racing_replays/370003-ladbrokes-we-play-together-handicap-hurdle-3
See the official photo gallery here: https://hoycubedphotography.photoshelter.com/gallery/race-6/G0000YjSo2puz9ZM/C0000n63KMNCC.rQ
Timeform rated it as a career best 140 performance, saying: "Proved better than ever, trying this trip for the first time, her dam having stayed 3m+, though this win was as much about speed as stamina, the one to find a turn of foot in a messy race, scooting clear despite an ungainly head carriage; held up, not settle fully, rapid headway early in straight, led between last 2, clear soon after, well on top finish; she faces a hike in the weights, though clearly the step up in trip opens new avenues, perhaps a return here for the Lanzarote on the cards.”
There were plenty of cheers and congratulatory applause as she returned to the winners enclosure..
Syndicate manager Tom says: "Well done to her owners. She was back to her brilliant best there yesterday and put the race to bed in a matter of strides. She could be in for a fairly hefty hike on the back of that but that’s something we will deal with once we know her new mark and have a little look where we should be going with her - we could go back to patten company. But that was very sweet and I was honoured to be there with owners and to celebrate after the race with Nicky, who we congratulate on his across the card treble!"