Floressa

Floressa was beaten by a better mare at the weights on the day in Miranda in the Grade 2 Yorkshire Rose Mares’ Hurdle at Doncaster on Saturday, but she ran well in defeat, on ground that was probably softer than ideal for her.

She settled into a nice rhythm from early behind a fast pace that Sopat set, and her jumping was really good. She was fast and fluent and low at most of her obstacles. She moved easily into the lead on the run around the home turn, and the only rival who could go with her was Miranda. It was apparent before the second last flight that Paul Nicholls’ mare was travelling better, but Floressa still kept on well all the way to the line, going down by just four lengths in the end, conceding 4lb to her, with the first two well clear of Marie’s Rock in third.

While Floressa handled the soft ground well, you have to think that she will be even better when the ground gets a little bit better. Winner of the Gerry Feilden Hurdle at Newbury in November off a mark of 141, it was understandable that she was no match for Silver Streak and Epatante in the Christmas Hurdle on her previous run, but she got to within a neck of the 157-rated Ballyandy that day. She is only six and she still has scope for progression. She could still be ahead of her handicap mark of 143.
Doncaster, 30^th January 2021