HAYDOCK | NHF talent Eileendover makes her debut on the flat

As the sun began to set on Huntingdon on a mid-November afternoon, very few were expecting a potential star to appear in the 1m5½f junior Bumper race. 

But that is exactly what Eileendover did, as the then three-year-old filly made incredibly easy work of her rivals and caught the imagination of many jumps fans in the aftermath of the contest.

Pam Sly’s recruit took the lead with three furlongs remaining and didn’t look back, leaving her opponents in the dust as she cruised to a jaw-dropping 29 length victory.

The daughter of Canford Cliffs followed that up with another dominant display four weeks later, storming to a 16-length victory at Wetherby.

Her best performance to date came in the Listed Swinbank Mares’ Bumper back in January, dispatching some useful rivals to claim victory at Market Rasen.

The filly wasn’t phased by the presence of Willie Mullins’ Grangee or the step up in trip as she claimed a six and a half-length success.

With many hoping Eileendover would be aimed for the Champion Bumper, Sly ended all speculation on that after her third win.

“I think the Aintree mares’ bumper is the ideal race for her.

“I’m not over-keen on the Cheltenham one, especially with a four-year-old filly. 

“I think that race can knock them off their perch, and they have a job to come back from it.”

She did head to Aintree for the Grade 2 Mares’ Bumper, but she could only manage fourth on what turned out to be her final outing in the National Hunt sphere.

The granddaughter of 2000 Guineas winner Specioza heads the market for a 1m3½f Fillies’ Novice Stakes at Haydock this evening, currently sitting at 9/4.

If she can carry her promise over to the flat and justify favouritism at Haydock, she could surely be an exciting talent to watch out for this season.