Take No Chances kept on strongly to turn over hot favourite Kargese in the Grade Two BetMGM Mares’ Hurdle at Ascot.
The Willie Mullins-trained Kargese was having her first outing since capping off a superb juvenile campaign by securing a second Grade One success at the Punchestown Festival last May.
However, the 2-5 market leader travelled sweetly under Paul Townend and looked all set to prevail when cruising up to challenge Ooh Betty at the second last.
Take No Chances (13-2) had not read the script, though, and she produced a determined surge to jump to the front at the final flight before battling on gamely to beat Kargese by three-quarters of a length.
The Dan Skelton-trained winner was posting the best performance of her career in victory and winning jockey Kielan Woods praised her consistency, with her 15-race career having yielded four prior wins, as well as a string of places.
Kargese is beaten! Take No Chances upsets the favourite in the @BetMGM Mares' Hurdle at @Ascot… pic.twitter.com/EsmkpGDePW
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) January 18, 2025
Woods said: “She dug really deep and I thought I might be in trouble going to two out. I thought Willie’s horse possibly had me covered, but I got over two out and this mare really dug deep and stuck her head down – she’s really, really tough.
“There is no doubt we had race fitness on our side but it’s nice to win today. She’s done nothing wrong at all and the only time she has finished out the front three (this season) is behind Sir Gino in the Fighting Fifth and she ran really well the last day at Cheltenham in a very competitive handicap. She’s a really solid mare and runs her race every time.”
Woods incurred some hefty whip bans when riding last term, but added: “When you get on some good horses, the game is easy.
“If you are picking up rides for the like of Dan, it does make the job a lot easier, what a difference 12 months makes.”
Winning owner Garry Wilson will let Skelton map out future plans, although he would relish a crack at the Mares’ Hurdle, with Take No Chances now a 12-1 shot for the Cheltenham Festival contest.
He said: “She has an entry in the Mares’ Hurdle and I guess we will consider that at Cheltenham, but I will leave it up to Dan, he has guided us all the way.
“It would be a great day if we could do it, she’s a little terrier, who always gives us 100 per cent.
“She went to Wetherby and won over this distance, but I was a bit worried about the ground today – it was a bit tacky – but I’m delighted.”
Townend felt Kargese needed her return run and anticipates plenty of progress.
He said: “She was fresh and keen, she had a blow and ran on again, so she will come on for it.”