Progressive Mares Complete Double For Getaway

A step up in trip saw the Nicky Henderson-trained Barbados Blue (5m Getaway - Buck’s Blue, by Epervier Bleu) impress in Monday’s Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at Kempton.

Racing for the same connections as Grade 1 Christmas Hurdle winner Verdana Blue (Getaway), the bay mare was ridden to track the leaders for much of the two mile and five furlong contest and improved to lead from three out under Nico de Boinville. Cruising clear, she built a winning margin of 30 lengths with minimum fuss.

The Crimbourne Bloodstock-owned winner was adding to a 15-length bumper success last May and was well-deserved given her two seconds from just two attempts over hurdles.

Bred by Philip Hore Jnr, Barbados Blue was bought by Henderson and Highflyer Bloodstock for €40,000 at the Derby Sale. She is a full-sister to point-to-point winner Getabuck (Getaway) and a half-sister to Listed chase winner More Buck’s, bred out of a winning half-sister to legendary hurdler Big Buck’s.

Fiveaftermidnight (6m Getaway - Monanig Lass, by Topanoora) completed a double on the day for her Grange Stud sire when taking the Mares Maiden Hurdle at Killarney.

She, too, was stepping up in trip and tracked the leader and favourite Owenacurra Lass for much of the two mile and six furlong contest. Leading from four out under James O’Sullivan, the Philip Rothwell-trained mare was ridden out to maintain her advantage and scored by three lengths on the line.

Owned by JJ Leckey and bred by Richard Lynch, Fiveaftermidnight is a half-sister to point-to-point maiden winner Silent Assistant (Sans Frontieres).