Siog Geal takes notable mares’ novice prize at Newbury

Siog Geal dug deep to reward favourite-backers in the BetVictor British EBF “National Hunt” Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at Newbury.

Fergal O’Brien’s six-year-old was sent off the 5-2 market leader in the hands of Jonathan Burke for the Grade Two feature of Saturday’s action on the back of some consistent performances in both bumpers and over obstacles this term.

Never far from the pace on this step up in distance, Siog Gael loomed into contention entering the home straight and looked to have the race at her mercy jumping three out.

However, her momentum was checked when untidy two from home and although jumping the last with a narrow advantage, Siog Gael was forced to pull out all the stops up the run-in by Nicky Henderson’s fast-finishing La Pinsonniere.

O’Brien said: “We’ve always loved her since the day we bought her. We got her for £80,000 and the boys at the time said they thought they were going to get £100,000 for her and she’s gone on to look a cheap mare all season.

“She was second in her first bumper and then second in a Listed bumper at Cheltenham and if she had won that day we would probably have stuck to bumpers.

“We decided to go over hurdles and won first time and then ran a very good race at Windsor on Winter Million weekend and if she had won then we would have probably gone to the Mares’ Novices’ at Cheltenham.

“She didn’t so we decided to get her qualified for this at Market Rasen and come for this as it’s a big pot to win.

“I have to thank her owners who own Dysart Enos as well and they have been very patient. They have stuck with us and believed with us and it’s all paid off today which is fantastic.

“She’s run six times now this season and has never been far away. She’s been a very special mare and I’m absolutely delighted with her today.”

There was further success for O’Brien and Burke when 1-3 favourite John Barbour recorded a bloodless seven-and-a-half-length win in the John Haine Memorial Novices’ Hurdle.

And a fine afternoon for the yard was completed by Is This For Real at Kelso in the hands of Liam Harrison, who added to the victory of Leloopa in the afternoon’s feature race at the Borders track.