Labelthou makes hurdles return
Labelthou’s novice chase career will be put on hold this weekend as she switches back to the smaller obstacles in Ascot’s Oilexco Mares Only Hurdle.
The Grade Two event is part of the new series of mares races leading up to the contest named in honour of David Nicholson at the Cheltenham Festival.
The nine-year-old made a pleasing start to her chasing career but suffered a crashing fall at Haydock last time, after which she lay motionless for a few minutes.
However, Labelthou has suffered no ill-effects and trainer Emma Lavelle confirmed this race had been on the agenda for some time.
“It was always the plan to go to Ascot, even if Haydock had worked out,” said Lavelle.
“It’s a double-whammy really as it will work as a confidence booster after her fall. She should have her ground too.
“She was incredibly lucky because she did come out of the race absolutely fine and was 100% sound afterwards.
“At the start of the season, the plan was to see how she went over fences with the option of going back over hurdles as she had a lot of success winning three Grade Two races last season.
“She hasn’t made a bad start over fences. Verasi franked the form at the weekend but I think we would have beaten him if we had gone quicker anyway - there is no point missing these races just for the sake of it.”
