Walk In The Park Mare Lands Listed Hurdle

Haute Estime (4f Walk In The Park - Terre Haute, by Oscar) became her sire’s second black-type winner in as many days when capturing the Listed Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at Haydock on Saturday.

Lucinda Russell’s charge drew clear on her hurdle debut in October and followed up with a fine fourth in a Listed hurdle last month. Stepping up to two miles and three furlongs at the weekend, she raced prominently under Derek Fox and was ridden out on the run-in to beat the favourite Nine The Terrier (Milan) by half a length.

Peter Scudamore, assistant trainer to Russell, was impressed by the bay and said, “Derek Fox said Haute Estime’s jumping was unbelievable. He didn't pick his stick up until halfway up the run-in.”

Owned by Brahms and Liszt, Haute Estime was bred by Duggan out of a full-sister to three black-type performers by Oscar. She hails from the first Irish crop of Grange Stud sire Walk In The Park, whose son Jonbon extended his unbeaten record in the Grade 2 hurdle at Ascot the previous day.