THIS lovely filly, enjoying herself at Rathmore Stud, is a daughter of Mount Nelson (Rock Of Gibraltar) and the Galileo (Sadler’s Wells) mare Swing Bowler. Bred by Kenny Alexander, she is the fourth produce of her dam who was bred and raced by David Johnson and trained by David Pipe.

She is from the last crop of Mount Nelson who stood at Newsells Park Stud before transferring to Boardsmill Stud. He sired Grade 1 Cheltenham winner Penhill and the Group 1 winning sprinter Librisa Breeze.

Swing Bowler won a couple of bumpers and three hurdle races and she was third to My Tent Or Yours in the Grade 3 Betfair Hurdle at Newbury. Her first foal is a four-year-old gelding Kaplidev (Shirocco), she has a three-year-old filly by the same sire and a two-year-old colt by Mount Nelson.

Swing Bowler is a half-sister to Red Sherlock (Shirocco), winner of a listed bumper at Cheltenham and a Grade 2 hurdle at the same venue. They are the best of the runners from Lady Cricket (Cricket Ball). She was a top-class racemare in France and Britain. Her four wins over hurdles in her native country included a pair of listed races at Auteuil. She added two more hurdles in England before excelling over fences where her victories included the Grade 2 Game Spirit Chase at Newbury, the Grade 2 Rising Stars Novices’ Chase at Chepstow, the Grade 3 Thomas Pink Gold Cup Chase at Cheltenham and the Listed Ladbroke Trophy Handicap Chase, also at Prestbury Park. Lady Cricket was runner-up also in the Grade 1 Mumm Melling Chase and the Grade 2 Martell Cup Chase, both at Aintree, and the Listed Mildmay of Flete Challenge Cup Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

Given Kenny Alexander’s amazing success with fillies racing, who is to say this individual will not be making headlines in 2024 and 2025? The dream begins.