Tag Archive for: Marble Sands

Marble Sands shines in Colin Parker contest

Marble Sands made a successful switch back to the National Hunt code to land the Colin Parker Memorial Intermediate Chase at Carlisle.

The grey, who is trained by David Killahena and Graeme McPherson, made his last two starts in all-weather Flat contests after a novice chasing campaign last season.

His form includes a Listed win over hurdles plus some decent graded efforts and in a field of four he was a 15-8 chance under Kielan Woods.

He was held up at the rear of the quartet but was never out of touch, progressing to take on 11-8 favourite Colonel Harry in the latter stages of the race.

The two horses looked to have battle on their hands but Marble Sands outjumped his rival and stayed on best of all to secure a three-and-three-quarter-length victory.

“I’m absolutely delighted, we’ve had the race in mind for a good while for him,” said McPherson.

“The conditions looked perfect, he obviously won a couple last year but he didn’t carry a penalty, he was going to go there off a nice weight.

“The trip looked spot on, the ground is always a worry at this time of year but the last dry couple of weeks made it perfect.

“The stars aligned for him and it was a great place to start a second season of chasing.

“He is so consistent, he’s run in a few graded races but if you take those out of the mix, he’s barely been out of the top three for the past four years.

“He tries his heart out, he’s a dream to train and I just wish I had a yard full of them.

“I bought him as a three-year-old at the stores sales and just fell in love with him, I’m so pleased he’s turned out to be the horse he is.”

As for next steps, the co-trainer added: “It really only is pencilled in, but there’s the Rehearsal Chase at the end of November up at Newcastle.

“We’ve always thought he’ll get further, he’ll get the best part of three miles but he doesn’t like it very soft, so if it did get that way we’d have to think again.”

There was another Listed event on the card in the Houghton Mares’ Chase, which was won by Lucy Wadham’s Terresita at 5-1 under Gavin Sheehan after the duo took the scalp of 6-4 favourite Galia Des Liteaux.



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Marble Sands gets the better of Rare Edition at Huntingdon

Marble Sands upset short-priced favourite Rare Edition to take the M1 Agency Sidney Banks Memorial Novices’ Hurdle at Huntingdon.

The latter was a 4-5 shot when lining up for the race undefeated under rules, having won a bumper and four hurdle contests by a combined 29 and a half lengths.

For trainer Charlie Longsdon and Sam Twiston-Davies Rare Edition made the running until the just after the second from last, when the Fergal O’Brien-trained Marble Sands – last seen finishing fifth to Hermes Allen in the Challow Hurdle – took up the lead under Kielan Woods.

Despite hanging right and then left between the penultimate fence and the line, Marble Sands was still able to pull away from the favourite and record a two-and-three-quarter-length victory at 9-2.

O’Brien said: “That is a fantastic win. Kielan gave him a fantastic ride. He would not be straightforward at home as he is very gassy.

“He is a fine horse and that is three he has won this season. He has done it well today. He missed the last and lost his shoe and we have beaten a very good horse.

“If we had finished second we would have been very happy as it would have been a good run, but I’m absolutely over the moon.

“It was much different ground at Newbury, but he didn’t run badly as it was a very good Challow Hurdle. That is where the team have been great they have brought him back from a very tough race and produced him for today.

“He was very keen in Challow and probably pulled his way out of a chance. Kielan spoke to Paddy (Brennan) and he said ‘your best chance of winning today was taking your time and coming with one run’ and it worked so I’m delighted.”

The Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival is now an option, with the grey a 25-1 chance with Betfair and 33-1 with William Hill.

“We will go back and have a look, but he has done plenty this season to deserve a go at the Ballymore probably so fingers crossed. We will go back and speak to Graeme, David and Jackie (owners) and see what they want to do,” said O’Brien.

Connections were disappointed with the performance of Rare Edition and will make sure there are no underlying issues behind the defeat before considering next steps.

Syndicate manager Bill Esdaile said: “We will get him home and see if anything comes to light. We know he can hurdle better and travel better. It is one of those things and that is racing.

“Sam felt he didn’t get the same feeling as he did at Kempton Park. It might have been the ground as it was plenty quick enough. He is still a very good horse.

“I’d rather him run with a bit of cover, while the trip was a bit of a question mark. I’m not ruling Cheltenham out at the moment.

“When a bubble gets burst everyone is disappointed. One thing I would say is that Menorah got beat over two miles three before coming back and winning the Supreme over two miles.”



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