Getaway mare wins Aintree G2 bumper

The well-backed Getaway Katie Mai (5m Getaway-Carrigmoorna Style, by Dr Massini) came home to a rousing reception at Aintree after winning the G2 mares’ bumper on Thursday.

Jamie Codd put in an ice-cool ride aboard the 15/8 favourite. She was towards the back of the 20-runner field entering the home straight, but made stealthy headway in the closing stages to hit the front and score by a length and a quarter from Alan King's Midnightreferendum.

The John Queally-trained mare was second to subsequent G1 Weatherbys Champion Bumper winner Relegate (5m Flemensfirth-Last Of The Bunch, by Silver Patriarchf) in a G2 event at Leopardstown in February and Codd was effusive in his praise of the five-year-old daughter of Getaway.

"She's a very nice mare. I rode her in a point-to-point at Lemonfield last year and she was a super jumper that day as she was very athletic through the air,” said the rider. "I then won a bumper on her at Ballinrobe and I thought she was very smart.

"She ran well behind Relegate at Leopardstown last time and she is just very good. She pulled hard and had a bit of hardship on the bend, but she pricked her ears and she came home like a train. I thankfully had a hold of her and she lasted home well - she was very tough.

"I think Cheltenham over hurdles will be the aim with her next year and John has done a brilliant job with her.”

Getaway Katie Mai was bred by Tom McCarthy and Queally added: “She'll probably go hurdling, but she has the option of running on the Flat too. I would look at it for her. She's not short of pace."

“She stays well and has the speed to get there. She has quality and is a lovely mare."