Smart Mares Complete Double For Walk In The Park

That’s Nice (4f Walk In The Park – Bloody Mary, by Fragrant Mix) became the first of two smart winners by Walk In The Park on Thursday when justifying short-priced favouritism in the mares’ novices’ hurdle at Warwick.

JP and Noreen McManus’s homebred emerged as an exciting prospect in February when beating geldings on debut in a four-year-old maiden at Belharbour. Then trained by Derek O’Connor, the bay was sent off favourite on rules debut for Nicky Henderson and raced in touch with the leaders for much of the way.

She was last off the bridle, Nico de Boinville pushing her to lead close home and went on to score by a length and a half. Listed bumper winner Honky Tonk Highway (Milan) finished 20 lengths clear of the third.

Shortly after that at Wincanton, Sunset Marquesa (5m Walk In The Park – Be My Sunset, by Bob Back) ran out an unchallenged winner of the mares’ maiden hurdle under Brendan Powell.

The Joe Tizzard-trained mare made a winning debut at Aintree last season and followed up with two thirds at Listed level. Runner-up on her seasonal return, she made all on Thursday and after building up a sizeable advantage, led by 11 lengths on the line.

Sunset Marquesa is owned by the Wychwood Partnership and was bred by Ivor McGrath.