No Prep Race Prior to Hooray 1000 Guineas Bid

Last season’s Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes winner Hooray is reported in fine shape as she prepares to step up to a mile and tackle the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket in the spring and will go to the first fillies’ classic without having a prep race, writes Elliot Slater.

Sir Mark Prescott’s Invincible Spirit filly was the highest rated juvenile of her sex in Britain during the 2010 season having continued to progress from race to race to the delight of her trainer and of her owners, the Cheveley Park Stud. Having wintered very well indeed, the three-year-old is back in training at Sir Mark’s Heath House Stables and is reportedly coming along nicely as she builds up to a the big race on May 1 and her first attempt at a mile. Those studying Irish racing will watch this race with interest for when she comes over seas.

On pedigree Hooray has the look of a horse who will probably be best at six or seven furlongs so it will be interesting to see if she is capable of staying a truly run mile at HQ. What is not in doubt is her ability to handle the Rowley Mile track, as she put up a sparkling performance to beat Rimth by four-and-a-half-lengths, staying-on very strongly on the uphill finish and giving the visual impression that she would get further.

Pundits watching Irish horse racing tips will be making notes on her performance. Prior to her Group 1 success Hooray had won the Group 2 Lowther Stakes at York’s Ebor fixture in August, battling on well to beat the smart Margot Did by three-quarters-of-a-length, and then went to Kempton Park where she put in a smooth performance to land the Group 3 Sirenia Stakes by nearly four-lengths from Reckless Reward.

Bookmakers make Prescott’s filly a best price 16/1 chance for the 1000 Guineas, behind current ante-post market leaders White Moonstone (7/1f) and Misty For Me (8/1).