Salley looks a girl to follow

Our Girl Salley gave notice that she is going to take high rank in the mares division this season when taking the Listed I T B A Fillies Scheme EBF Mares Hurdle in tremendous fashion.

Barry Geraghty had his hands full when the daughter of Carroll House loomed up on the outside entering the straight and, after jumping to the front at the last, the 3/1 chance eased clear on the run-in to beat Shop DJ by a very cosy three lengths. Macville just a short-head back in third, would probably have filled the runner-up spot but for stumbling slightly on landing over the last. For Bill (9/4fav) was under pressure and going nowhere after the second last but to her credit did stay on from the last to secure fourth place.

“She must be so good as she had such a poor preparation for this race. We had about a foot and a half of snow in Wicklow and she just walked around in the snow for five days up to Christmas eve before we could do a little bit of work with her,” said trainer Prunella Dobbs.

She added: “I was very nervous that we didn't have her ready, and thought she was short of work. I'm not sure where we will go next but we will look after her.”

Boylesports gave the five-year-old a 25/1 quote for the David Nicholson Mares Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, while she is just 14/1 with Stan James.