THE last mare who Gordon Elliott saddled to win the Grade 3 Racing TV Quevega Mares Hurdle, Black Tears, went on to strike next time at the Cheltenham Festival, and connections of high-class talent Queens Brook will be hoping for more of the same after she lowered the colours of long-absent Festival hopeful Brandy Love.

There appeared to be a fair deal of market confidence behind the Bective Stud-owned winner, sent off 11/8 favourite to take advantage of a 9lb pull at the weights with Grade 1 winner Brandy Love (easy to back at 6/4 on her return from a 311-day layoff).

Winning rider Jordan Gainford made full use of his mount’s race fitness and the Shirocco eight-year-old weren’t for catching as she scored by a decisive four and a half lengths.

Brandy Love, who generally jumped straight despite having a preference to race left-handed, got tired at the death on her first start in the colours of Marie Donnelly and was swallowed up for second by the John McConnell-trained Anna Bunina.

A tilt at the Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle, which Queens Brook finished second in last year behind Marie’s Rock, now looks to be on the cards for the winner. She was cut to 10/1 (from 12/1) for that Cheltenham Festival target.

Gainford said: “She’s very good and her form is rock solid. She enjoyed it around here and I thought from the bend to the last that she picked up very well. She’s consistent.”

Speculatrix strikes

Elliott doubled up in the concluding See You At Festival 2023 Bumper when Speculatrix, a €115,000 purchase at last year’s Tattersalls Derby Sale, made a winning debut under Harry Swan for Gigginstown House Stud.

A four-year-old filly by No Risk At All, the 4/6 favourite stuck to the task well to fend off a promising debut effort from The Correction, trained by Pat Martin.

Gigginstown have been represented by nine different horses in bumpers this season and have won with five.

Swan, who has had more rides this season than any other amateur in Ireland, said: “She’s a lovely filly and I thought she battled well. We didn’t go much of a gallop early on and then we started to sprint, which makes it hard to pull away from horses. She looks a nice one going forward.”

THERE was drama in the opening pair of maiden hurdles on the card, with 6/4 favourite I Am Fortunata running out before embarking on his final circuit in the opening two-mile Racing TV Maiden Hurdle.

It opened the picture for the Pat Flynn-trained Soldier Solid, whose sire Virtual is also responsible for Hewick, to gain a deserved first win over hurdles, building on some fine efforts when second at Tramore and Thurles since the turn of the year.

The fitting of a new noseband for the first time was blamed as the reason for his refusal to race in a bumper at Down Royal last month.

Winning rider Gary Noonan said: “He seems to be a very nice horse and found plenty for me. He quickened away from the back of the last and I think he’s a decent horse. He had some decent runs before today too.”

The run of third-placed Meritorious, trained by John McConnell, caught the attention of the stewards. Conditional jockey Thomas Reilly received a 10-day suspension for a breach under the non-triers rule, while the 100/1 shot was also banned for 42 days.

CCross springs surprise spr

A 66/1 shock came in the I.N.H. Stallion Owners EBF Maiden Hurdle when Connors Cross, trained by James Fahey and ridden by Aidan Kelly, defied idleness in front to get off the mark on his second start over hurdles.

The Philip O’Connor and John Hallahan-owned winner’s task was made easier when 11/8 favourite Faulty slipped on the home turn when trying to lay down a challenge in the extended-two-and-a-half-mile contest.

Connors Cross, by Carlotamix, had finished second on his point-to-point debut in November before being tailed off in a Naas bumper in December.

Fahey said: “I thought he’d win his point-to-point first time out but his jumping let him down. I also thought he’d run a lot better at Naas but he actually struck into himself. He’s a very nice horse, gallops all day and is for sale.”

In-form partnership

Barry Connell enhanced his seasonal strike rate to an excellent 29% when Nine Graces kept on well under Michael O’Sullivan to land the Racing TV Mares Maiden Hurdle over two miles and six furlongs.

It represented another step in the right direction for the six-year-old by Kapgarde, having finished a respectable third to the promising Indiana Dream at Fairyhouse on her previous start.

Connell said: “We bought her out of a Tipperary schooling hurdle about two years ago and she ran well on her first bumper start before getting worse on her next two starts. She hated bumpers so has shown better since getting back over hurdles.

“She had a good blow afterwards and I’d imagine she’ll probably improve again. We’re not getting carried away with her, but there are novice handicap hurdles at Fairyhouse and Punchestown. I think she’ll be better over fences in time.”