Nicky Henderson's Marie's Rock rolling to Punchestown

Nicky Henderson's hat-trick hunting Marie's Rock is looking to continue her solid form with victory in the Coolmore Kew Gardens Irish EBF Mares Champion Hurdle at the Punchestown Festival.

The Middleham Park mare hasn't looked back since victory at Warwick in February, progressing again to take the Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle at Cheltenham.

"As for who we've got to take on, it's my understanding from speaking to Nicky (Henderson) on Tuesday that it is still very much up in the air.

"If she turns up then she's a Grade One-winning mare in a Grade One mares' race - it is what it is and to be the best you've got to beat the best, so we'll give it our best shot."

"We're still very much on a high from Cheltenham, we still can't really believe it," he said.

"It should be a very exciting day and the fact that we've got people willing to make the effort to go across in these trying times shows you the level of support and excitement behind her.

"She's in the form of her life, so it makes sense to extend her season while we can. This is the obvious race for her, let's hope she'll put up a good show and we'll come home with some more black type."

Marie's Rock wins the Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle

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