Queens Brook and Jordan Gainford© Photo Healy Racing
Twice Cheltenham festival-placed Queens Brook won Punchestown's informative Grade 3 Racing TV Quevega Hurdle today, as Grade 1 winner Brandy Love returned to action with a third-place finish.
Queens Brook, third and second in Cheltenham's Champion Bumper and Mares Hurdle in 2020 and 2022 respectively, raced second in today's 2m4f race, led rounding the home turn and defeated Anna Bunina by four and a quarter lengths.
Brandy Love conceded 9lb to Queens Brook and ran satisfactorily on return since April, finishing a neck away in third, with her trainer Willie Mullins using today's race, in 2016, as Annie Power's prep for a Champion Hurdle win.
Queens Brook's trainer Gordon Elliott wasn't present, with successful jockey Jordan Gainford saying “Queens Brook is very good, her form is rock solid and she enjoyed it around there. I thought from the bend to the last that she picked up very well and it's nice to see her doing that.
“That inside track is riding very tight today to be honest. She's a mare that is consistent and she's there every day.”
Bookmakers later cut Queens Brook to 8/1 generally (from 12s) and pushed Brandy Love to 8/1, (from 4s) for Cheltenham's Mares' Hurdle, which could also feature Champion Hurdle winners Honeysuckle and Epatante.
Quotes from Gary Carson
