What looks a nice prospect Whatwillwecallher got her hurdling career off to an exciting start when easily landing odds of 4/7 in the two mile and five furlongs Winter Wonderland Maiden Hurdle. Purchased within the past month by champion owner J P McManus, the six-year-old mare had previously won a point-to-point at Lemonfield and three times in bumpers. Two of those bumper successes came at this venue, while she also landed a valuable mares event at the Punchestown Festival. Philip Enright produced the daughter of Old Vic with a strong challenge to range alongside Castle Wings approaching the second last where that rival fell. This left her well clear and Enright could afford to take things very easy on the run-in to record a four and a quarter length verdict over Noble Pageant (14/1), with Hume Tower (33/1) third. Winning trainer Robert Tyner's wife Mary said, “That's a nice starting point, and we can begin to plan from here. She did that very well, and din't have to come under a whole pile of pressure. Her jumping was very good, and will bring her on alot.” Stan James have introduced Whatwillwecallher at 33/1 for the David Nicholson Mares Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.
