Tag Archive for: Marsh Wren

Marsh Wren to miss Christmas outing following setback

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Marsh Wren will miss the busy Christmas period due to a bruised foot.

Stuart Edmunds’ stable star fared best of the UK runners in the Mares’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March when a respectable third behind Limerick Lace and Dinoblue.

She reappeared this year with a commanding display in a Listed event at Market Rasen, beating the smart Apple Away by 16 lengths.

Edmunds, who was rewarded for his foresight when taking her to Thurles last season to win, had mooted an event at Fairyhouse in the new year. However, plans are now on hold for the eight-year-old.

“She’s got a bit of problem with a foot so she’s at the vets at the minute is the honest truth,” said Edmunds.

“She had a bit of an issue before she won at Market Rasen and she’s got a deep seated bruise in her foot so she’s getting sorted as we speak.

“The vets can’t tell me how long it will rule her out for, so I can’t say at this stage, I’m afraid, but it will definitely rule her out of Christmas.”

But Edmunds will be represented in the Grade One Formby Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree on Boxing Day with Miami Magic.

The five-year-old has won his two starts over hurdles by an aggregate of 22 lengths, fully warranting a step up in class.

“The Formby is probably next for him,” said Edmunds.

“I think he falls into the camp that moving what was the Tolworth to Aintree from Sandown probably suits him, as all his form at the minute is on flat tracks.

“So that could well have helped us, but I get scared at the minute every time I see a decent two-miler run!

“I don’t think he’s an out-and-out two-miler, I think two-and-a-half could be well within his reach. He does look quite nice.”

Edmunds to chase mares’ prize with Kosasiempre

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Stuart Edmunds has his sights set on a handsome bonus with smart mare Kosasiempre after her impressive victory at Leicester.

The daughter of Masked Marvel marked her chasing debut with a five-and-a-half-length victory over Getbazoutofhere in a Queen Boudicca Mares’ Chase Series Qualifier at the Midlands track.

The £50,000 final at Fakenham is the target for the six-year-old, with another qualifier at the Norfolk circuit on December 22 on the agenda.

Edmunds said of the win at Leicester: “It was a good start. I think she can be quite progressive. She’s got the stature to be a chaser. Chasing is the plan, as I say she’s got the stature to be a chaser. She’s a big, strong mare so hopefully we can bring out a bit of improvement.

“The Fakenham race for a bonus, the final there is the plan. The Boudicca final if we could get her qualified there.

“She won’t have time for three runs, so she can get in it if she finishes in the top four in two chases. She’s qualified for the series now but she has to finish fourth in another chase and she’ll probably go there on December 22.”

Edmunds enjoyed a successful week with three wins in six days highlighted by stable star Marsh Wren’s Listed triumph in the Pertemps Network Bud Booth Mares’ Chase at Market Rasen.

The eight-year-old made all to canter home 16 lengths clear of Apple Away but will now skip the December Gold Cup at Cheltenham with the Welsh National the next likely target.

Edmunds said: “She’s an admirable mare, she’s just great and three miles seems to bring out improvement in her. She’s a very busy mare, she’s easy to get fit first time. She’s had one away day but she gets herself very fit.

“She was only in the December Gold Cup as a back up if we didn’t go to Market Rasen, because at the time she had a bit of a foot abscess and that has just reared its head a little bit afterwards, so we’re just dealing with that so she won’t go to the December Gold Cup.”

Miami Magic kicked off Edmunds’ fine week when making all to land a novice hurdle at Kempton by 12 lengths and Edmunds added: “He’s a nice horse. He’ll probably go to Aintree (Formby Novices’ Hurdle) on Boxing Day. He’s done well.”

Marsh Wren makes light work of Listed assignment at Market Rasen

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Marsh Wren did her connections proud once again when skipping to success in the Pertemps Network Bud Booth Mares’ Chase at Market Rasen.

Trained by Stuart Edmunds and owned by the Far Bihoue Partnership, the eight-year-old is a model of consistency who had won eight of her 14 starts ahead of the Listed event.

Amongst those victories is a Listed triumph at Thurles last season, after which she finished an admirable third in the Grade Two Mares’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

She was returning for the season here and started at 11-4 under Sean Bowen as she stepped up to three miles for the first time in her chasing career.

She made the running in a small field of five and travelled well throughout, jumping soundly and holding off any and all challengers to canter home 16 lengths to the good in a lovely performance.

Edmunds may now have another trip across the Irish Sea in mind for the mare, with a Grade Three event at Fairyhouse on New Year’s Day pencilled into the diary.

“I’m very happy – she’s a star. She’s tough and doesn’t know when she’s beaten. The trip was an unknown, but obviously it’s not a problem,” he said.

A victorious Marsh Wren in the unsaddling enclosure
A victorious Marsh Wren in the unsaddling enclosure (PA)

“We were very happy when the rain fell. Once the Skelton horse (Sacre Coeur) didn’t run we thought we’d make the running.

“She just wears her heart on her sleeve and gets on with it.

“She might go to Ireland now, Fairyhouse on New Year’s Day (for the John and Chich Fowler Memorial Mares Chase).

“It’s two and a half (miles), that’s the race we’ll have to be having a look at now.”

Needham keen to test the water with star mare Sine Nomine

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Fiona Needham’s Cheltenham heroine Sine Nomine will step out of hunter chase company to take on the Pertemps Network Bud Booth Mares’ Chase at Market Rasen.

The grey shone on the biggest stage of all when landing the St James’s Place Festival Challenge Cup at Prestbury Park last season, powering up the hill to fly the flag for Yorkshire under John Dawson.

The same rider will be in the saddle when the eight-year-old lines up at Listed level at Market Rasen, her first start outside of the amateur ranks following several successful seasons point-to-pointing and hunter chasing.

Needham, who is the clerk of the course at Catterick and won the Cheltenham hunter chase as a jockey aboard Last Option in 2002, said of Sine Nomine: “She seems in really good form, obviously it’s her first run back and everything sharpens up for the run, but she’s very well.

“It’s a hot race and obviously we’ve been in the point-to-point and hunter chase field, so it is a little step into the unknown. I’m relying on the handicapper a bit and hoping he’s not far out!

“I think we are due a bit more rain tomorrow morning and any rain would help because she stays so well.

“She’s a very determined mare, she’s been brilliant for us so far and she’s risen to the challenge of everything we’ve thrown at her.

“I just hope it continues, we’re dipping our toe in the water and she’s earned her chance to have a go.”

Stuart Edmunds will run the ultra-consistent Marsh Wren in the race, a horse who took her form to a new level last season when winning the Listed Colreevy Mares Novice Chase at Thurles and placing third in the Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase at Cheltenham.

She makes her seasonal comeback at Market Rasen and like Sine Nomine would appreciate any rain ahead of the race.

“We’re very happy with her, I just hope the ground is soft enough for her,” said Edmunds.

“She goes there in good nick but she just absolutely loves it when the ground is soft.

“She’s very consistent and she’s been a star, it’s the right race for her, I just hope there’s a bit of rain.”

Lucinda Russell will be represented in the race by Apple Away, a Grade One winner over hurdles who struck twice over fences last term and was second in the Grade Two Hampton Novices’ Chase.

She made her reappearance in the Edinburgh Gin Chase at Kelso, where she was fourth, and will be supported in Lincolnshire by syndicate owners Old Gold Racing.

“Apple Away is in perfect form ahead of the Listed mares’ chase at Market Rasen on Wednesday,” said Russell.

“She came out of her Kelso reappearance really well, where she probably needed the run a little bit and was in against some seasoned campaigners too.

“Market Rasen ought to be right up her street. It’s flat, right-handed, and to that extent is very much like Perth, where she was fantastic in winning in April.

“Derek (Fox) goes down there to ride her, the three-mile trip is spot on, and so we think she’s got every chance.”

Of longer-term plans, Russell added: “We’ve made no secret of the fact that we have big dreams for her this season and the Scottish Grand National is her main aim.

“We want to build her up to that, so we’re keen not to over-face her in big handicaps all the way through the season.

“She’s improved markedly for her run at Kelso for sure, and I think the way Wednesday’s race has come together should suit her down to the ground. I hope she can run a big race for the Old Gold Racing team!”

Elsewhere in the contest is Nicky Henderson’s Fantastic Lady, who won the race in 2022 and was last seen taking the Grade Two Oaksey Chase at Sandown.

Dr Richard Newland and Jamie Insole’s La Renommee and Dan Skelton’s Sacre Coeur complete a field of six for the three-mile event.

Thurles delight for Stuart Edmunds and Ciaran Gethings

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Stuart Edmunds was rewarded for rolling the dice as Marsh Wren took top honours in the Carey Glass Irish EBF Colreevy Mares Novice Chase at Thurles.

The eight-year-old – who numbers former footballer Ben Turner among her owners – was a good-quality hurdler who has been highly consistent since switching to fences, winning two of her three starts prior to setting sail for Ireland from her Stewkley base in Buckinghamshire.

Her only reversal was a second-placed run in the Listed Lady Godiva Chase at Wincanton in December and at Thurles she aimed to go one better at the same level.

Under usual pilot Ciaran Gethings, she seemed to relish the soft ground and made the running before facing a challenge or two in the home straight, as other horses tried to compete.

Marsh Wren was not for passing, however, and held on resolutely to prevail by three-quarters of a length at 9-4 and provide both trainer and jockey with their first win on Irish turf.

“She’s a credit to everybody and to herself, she never knows when she’s beaten. She did it very well,” said Edmunds.

“She’s very, very tough. She is a credit to everybody at home, as they do a great job and she always rewards them.

“It was a brave choice, as it costs a few quid to go, but she had placed black type over here and we wanted to try to win one.

“It’s very valuable for a mare, it makes a big difference for them.”

A delighted Gethings added: “That was a some buzz and fair play to Stuart and Ben Turner, the owner, and fair play to everybody for putting their hands in their pockets and coming over.

“I’m from Tinahely (County Wicklow) and moved over to England when I was 16. I spent six years with Philip Hobbs before moving to Tom George’s and have been with Stuart for a long, long time now. I live in Cheltenham and this is my first Irish winner.

“I might have bits and bobs for Cheltenham (Festival) and might ride for Kim Bailey if he has two horses for a race.”

Marsh Wren holds an entry for the Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival but would require the going to be soft if that race is to be considered.

“It would need to be soft, it seems silly to say that with the rain at the minute!” Edmunds said.

“We put her in because it wasn’t too expensive but we’ll have to see what the weather does closer to the time.”

Willie Mullins’ Largy Hill continued his progression with a neat success in the BoyleSports Michael Purcell Memorial Novice Hurdle.

The seven-year-old has been making a good go of his first season over timber so far, placing second on debut and then winning last time out at Cork.

He was 100-30 at Thurles when stepping up to Grade Three level, with stablemate Stoke The Fire starting at 7-1 and Gordon Elliott’s Staffordshire Knot the 8-11 favourite.

Largy Hill was comfortably able to take the top prize, travelling and jumping well under Paul Townend and strolling to a four-length success ahead of the market leader.

“Largy Hill did everything right and that was a good effort,” Mullins said.

“You could see his jumping was that of an ex-point-to-pointer, compared to Stoke The Fire (third), who was novicey, and What Path (fourth), who jumped a bit left.

“I was very happy with Stoke The Fire and that will bring him on hugely.

“The winner is a big, chasing type and it is nice to win a prize like this. I doubt he’ll go to Cheltenham and will wait until Fairyhouse instead.”

Marsh Wren breaking new ground for Stuart Edmunds

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Stuart Edmunds will saddle his first ever runner in Ireland on Thursday when Marsh Wren bids for Listed honours in the Carey Glass Irish EBF Colreevy Mares Novice Chase at Thurles.

The eight-year-old, who is part-owned by former Cardiff and Coventry City defender Ben Turner, has won two of her three starts over fences to date, with victories at Warwick and Uttoxeter sandwiching a second-placed finish in Listed company behind Nicky Henderson’s Arclight at Wincanton.

Edmunds admits taking on the Irish in their own back yard is a stiff test, but with conditions in Marsh Wren’s favour and Turner and other members of the Far Bihoue Partnership set to make the trip, the trainer is excited by the challenge.

“We thought about going for a previous mares’ race there, but in the end we decided to go for what was not too difficult a race at Uttoxeter,” said Edmunds, who is based near Milton Keynes.

“We just thought she’s already Listed placed, she loves soft ground and the boys are all very excited about going to Ireland, so she’s gone.

“We wouldn’t be going if we thought it was a waste of time, we think she’s gone there in good order and the more rain they get the better, as long as it’s on.

“She loves testing conditions, the trip (two and three-quarter miles) in Ireland is about right and it’s worth a few quid at €30,000, so why not have a go?”

Marsh Wren features in a six-strong field, with Gordon Elliott’s pair of Harmonya Maker and Jumping Jet and Gavin Cromwell’s Law Ella seemingly her biggest threats.

There is also British interest in the BoyleSports Michael Purcell Memorial Novice Hurdle, with the Willie Mullins-trained Stoke The Fire carrying the colours of Middleham Park Racing.

An impressive winner on his hurdling debut at Tramore, the five-year-old lines up as one of three runners for the champion trainer in the Grade Three contest alongside Largy Hill and What Path.

Middleham Park’s National Hunt racing manager, Tom Palin, said: “He’s the first horse we’ve had with Willie, but we’ve obviously been huge admirers of his for a long time. We like to have our horses with trainers who provide you with the best chance of having good runners on the best days, and there’s probably no finer man than Willie for that.

“We actually bought this horse as a possible Irish Cesarewitch contender, that’s more of a longer-term plan, but he might give us a little bit of fun over hurdles in the interim.

“He certainly gave us a bit more than a little bit of fun on New Year’s Day with a fairly bloodless victory at Tramore, when he seemed to cope with the testing conditions well and we were very taken by how he jumped on debut.

“This feels like the right sort of race to pitch him in and I’m sure whatever happens, he’ll still be a nice horse capable of taking us to Festivals both on the Flat and over hurdles, whether that’s Fairyhouse or Punchestown in graded company or in handicaps, we’ll have to wait and see.”

The likely favourite for the race is Elliott’s Staffordshire Knot, who will carry the colours of Gigginstown House Stud for the first time after being bought to stay in the yard for €510,000 at Andy and Gemma Brown’s dispersal earlier this month.

Former footballer Ben Turner eyes Listed glory with Marsh Wren

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Ex-footballer Ben Turner is excited to see Marsh Wren return to Warwick for what he describes as her ‘cup final’ in Thursday’s Larkshill Engineering Lady Godiva Mares’ Novices’ Chase – should the meeting survive a morning inspection.

The Stuart Edmunds-trained seven-year-old carries the colours of the Far Bihoue Partnership, which is fronted by the former Cardiff and Coventry City defender.

Having seen Marsh Wren make a successful debut over fences at Warwick last month, Turner is keeping his fingers crossed she can boost her future value as a broodmare with victory in this Listed event.

“This is a massive opportunity for her to get some black type as we want to breed from her eventually and I don’t think we will get a better mare to breed from,” he said.

“From what both Stu and Ciaran Gethings have said she is looking in savage form at home. Arclight is rated higher than us, and is trained by a master trainer in Nicky Henderson, and we have to give her weight as she is only a four-year-old, but her best form is over shorter and on better ground.

“The ground can’t be testing enough for Marsh Wren. So many horses struggle to find that little bit extra when the ground is bottomless but she takes to it like a duck to water.

“This is Marsh Wren’s time of year, and this is her trip. This is her cup final, and we planned to go here even before she won her last start.”

Turner is now retired from professional football following a fine career which saw him play and score in the 2012 League Cup final for Cardiff City against Liverpool. He also featured in the ‘Bluebirds’ team that lifted the 2012-13 Championship title.

Ben Turner (right) in action against Luis Suarez in the 2012 League Cup Final
Ben Turner (right) in action against Luis Suarez in the 2012 League Cup Final (Nick Potts/PA)

Having been associated with the glamour of the Premier League, the 35-year-old is proud of the fact that he been able to offer people outside of the stereotypical racehorse owner the opportunity to be part of something special with Marsh Wren.

He added: “My family would say the League Cup Final would be their best memory, and it would be my best one-off memory, but getting promoted to the Premier League was my best achievement as that takes some doing over 46 games.

“Marsh Wren was purchased on a shoestring budget and we have 30 people involved in her including several members of my family.

“What is great about the syndicate is that they are all working class people who have normal jobs. We haven’t got the resources to spend big money out of the point-to-point field, but here they are with a horse in a Listed race.

“When I was playing football I was fortunate enough to have half and quarter shares in horses, along with owning one outright, but being in a syndicate like this is no less of a buzz.

“We have people in their 20s right through to their 70s involved so we have the full age scale, which is great to see.”

The meeting is subject to a 7.30am inspection due to the threat of waterlogging.