Jason Maguire© Photo Healy Racing
The former David Kiely-trained She Ranks Me (85/40) ran out a facile winner of the Listed Bet At bluesq.com Mares' Novices' Hurdle in the Haydock gloom.
The winner of a similar contest at Newbury last time, Donald McCain's charge was always cantering under Jason Maguire and was hard on the bridle as she loomed alongside the long-time leader Little Glenshee (14/1) at the final flight.
The jockey, riding his 100th winner of the season, barely had to change hands to send his mount bounding clear, the distance between the two principals extending to five lengths at the line.
Sky Bet were impressed and cut the winner to 14/1 for the David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.
"I don't know if she's a star but she's very tough. She came over here with a view to running on better ground but we wanted to step up in trip and this looked an obvious place to come," the winning trainer told Racing UK.
"She's won her two Listed races so our work is now done, she's going to stud at some point. The way she's progressing she could run in the first four or five at the Cheltenham Festival. I wouldn't expect her to win but we have to start thinking now she deserves to go."
