Marsh Wren makes light work of Listed assignment at Market Rasen

Marsh Wren did her connections proud once again when skipping to success in the Pertemps Network Bud Booth Mares’ Chase at Market Rasen.

Trained by Stuart Edmunds and owned by the Far Bihoue Partnership, the eight-year-old is a model of consistency who had won eight of her 14 starts ahead of the Listed event.

Amongst those victories is a Listed triumph at Thurles last season, after which she finished an admirable third in the Grade Two Mares’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

She was returning for the season here and started at 11-4 under Sean Bowen as she stepped up to three miles for the first time in her chasing career.

She made the running in a small field of five and travelled well throughout, jumping soundly and holding off any and all challengers to canter home 16 lengths to the good in a lovely performance.

Edmunds may now have another trip across the Irish Sea in mind for the mare, with a Grade Three event at Fairyhouse on New Year’s Day pencilled into the diary.

“I’m very happy – she’s a star. She’s tough and doesn’t know when she’s beaten. The trip was an unknown, but obviously it’s not a problem,” he said.

“We were very happy when the rain fell. Once the Skelton horse (Sacre Coeur) didn’t run we thought we’d make the running.

“She just wears her heart on her sleeve and gets on with it.

“She might go to Ireland now, Fairyhouse on New Year’s Day (for the John and Chich Fowler Memorial Mares Chase).

“It’s two and a half (miles), that’s the race we’ll have to be having a look at now.”