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Jubilee Alpha reversed the form with old adversary Listentoyourheart in the Listed Byerley Stud Mares' Novices' Hurdle at Taunton on Monday.
The Paul Nicholls-trained mare was successful on her debut in a Wincanton bumper in February and demonstrated her class when finishing second in the Grade 2 Nickel Coin Mares' National Hunt Flat Race at Aintree on second career start. She was keen in the parade ring prior to hurdling debut in the Listed 2m½f Play Coral 'Racing-Super-Series' For Free Mares' Novices' Hurdle at Newbury and could only manage third behind Listentoyourheart, making a mess of the last hurdle before running on.
It was a different story at Taunton where the daughter of Flemensfirth produced a good round of jumping, keen in the early stages but travelling well-within herself when hitting the front with two flights to jump. Favourite Listentoyourheart tried to post a challenge but struggled to rally, with Hollygrove Cha Cha staying on well to finish a good second. Kitty Foyle finished third, which was another solid performance for Daisy Hitchins-trained mare.
In a post-race interview with Racing TV, jockey Harry Cobden said: "She learnt a lot at Newbury. She was buried down the inside and we didn't go that far, she was a bit keen, but ultimately I thought she learned a lot jumping and I never did win that day, but I'd thought she'd build on that run and she's coming.
"She's probably got it all apart from size. She's not the biggest in the world, but she travels well. She's really got her jumping together, she hurdles slickly and quickly. I think she's going to keep progressing.
"I thought she'd go on and run a big race, just purely on the fact I wasn't massively hard on her the last day being at her first run of the year and obviously her first one over hurdles and I thought she'd just improve a lot for the run.
"Regarding the horse's form, some are running their races and some aren't, you know. Inthewaterside was brilliant on Saturday wasn't he? And this filly won today, but, obviously, it has been quite a lot in between that haven't run their races , but I think with a flu jab and a few quiet weeks, they'll hopefully bounce back in the New Year."
Paddy Power reacted to the win by shortening Jubilee Alpha from 20/1 to 12/1 for the Mares' Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.
