Getaway Totherock scored impressively last time out, so looks a worthy 11/8 favourite with Betfred to follow-up in 2m 5f mares’ novices’ hurdle at Hereford on Friday (15:55).
This seven-year-old mare came good at the fourth time of asking in an Irish point at Kildorrey when coming with a smooth run from off the pace to easily beat subsequent winner Ulterior Motives by half-a-length.
She then found life too hot in her sole bumper start at Gowran Park when last of 11, after which she moved to join trainer Alastair Ralph for this campaign.
Getaway Totherock then shaped with promise on debut for her new handler when travelling well for much of the 2m 5f trip at Ludlow, before weakening three from home to finish a not knocked about 34-length fourth of eight to House Island.
She ran as if badly needing the outing, her first for 250 days, and shaped far better than the distance she was eventually beaten suggests.
The third home Thegallantway also went into the race on the back of a success.
Enrilo, who was fourth, won the Grade 2 Winter Novices’ Hurdle at Sandown next time up, before finishing third to the hugely exciting Thyme Hill in the Grade 1 Challow at Newbury off an official rating of 141.
Trainer in-form and Getaway Totherock highest rated
That gives the form a solid look. Getaway Totherock duly showed the benefit of that outing when back at Ludlow last month and sluicing up by 10 lengths from Subway Surf.
The daughter of Getaway travelled well throughout on the heels of the leaders and, after taking up the running three from home, drew readily clear to win with tons in hand.
As the runner-up is a highly-regarded sort trained by Kim Bailey who won two of her three starts in bumpers in the manner of an exciting prospect, the way in which Getaway Totherock disposed of her with such ease was impressive.
It was a performance which suggested there was better to come. Getaway Totherock is rated 2lb superior to main market rival Eleanor Bob, who she receives 6lb from.
That makes her very much the one to beat for a stable that has been among the winners of last and boasts a healthy strike rate of 20 per cent with its runners at the track in the past 12 months.
Bet of the Day: 11/8 with Betfred, Getaway Totherock in the 2m 5f mares’ novices’ hurdle at Hereford.
