Sunday Racing Tips: Marie can Rock the Warfield Mares’ Hurdle

Jump racing holds sway across Britain and Ireland on Sunday with three meetings taking place across the afternoon. First off is Doncaster before they go to Naas and Fontwell.

Amongst our Sunday fancies is one for trainer Nicky Henderson who is a dual Grade 1 winner, and she can score over a staying trip for the first time in her career.

12:50 Doncaster - Maclaine @ 11/4

Drying ground will be a big help for the chances of the Richard Bandey-trained MACLAINE in the 2m3f handicap chase, and the son of Masked Marvel can pick up his first win over fences at the third attempt.

Despite winning just once over hurdles at Fontwell in November 2022, he was a consistent horse when trained by Oliver Sherwood, and this will be just his third start for Bandey.

There was a lot to like about his run at this track over 2m4½f last month when just held by Prairie Wolf, and running from the same mark, Maclaine won't find a better opportunity to get his head in front.

14:00 Doncaster - Champagne Twist @ 11/10

Picked up for £60,000 after winning a Quakerstown point-to-point in style in Ireland last April, CHAMPAGNE TWIST has done nothing wrong in defeat in two starts under rules for trainer Ben Pauling and should prove too strong for his rivals in the 2m3½f maiden hurdle.

The son of Shantou finished fourth in a hot 2m3½f maiden hurdle at Ascot in November, with the three horses in front of him holding Grade 1 entries at the upcoming Cheltenham Festival.

Champagne Twist stepped up to 2m4½f at Cheltenham on New Year's Day and finished runner-up to Henderson's Peaky Boy, who is another horse with some lofty entries.

It will be a surprise if there's anything of the calibre of horse he has faced thus far in this contest, and as a consequence he must hold a favourite's chance in a winnable contest.

14:35 Doncaster - Marie's Rock @ 10/11

The jury is still out as to whether MARIE'S ROCK can see out three miles plus properly, but if Henderson's Milan mare is ever going to prove herself over a staying trip, she has to do it in the feature 3m½f Grade 2 Warfield Mares' Hurdle.

Owned by Middleham Park Racing, she finished runner-up to the Stayers' Hurdle winner Sire Du Berlais in the Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree on her first try over the staying distance last season, and a similar flat track like Doncaster might give her the best chance of seeing it out.

Marie's Rock is very slick and speedy over her hurdles but she can be a bit exuberant, so if she is to see this out, she will have to settle a bit better than when disappointing in the Long Walk Hurdle at Newbury in December.

Horse Racing tips, from Betfred Insights.