Golden Ace Disappoints Scott With Lacklustre Wetherby Return

Jeremy Scott reported last season's Champion Hurdle winner Golden Ace to have actually scoped unclean after she was beaten by Kateira on her reappearance at Wetherby.


With the morning defection of Dysart Enos, only those 2 lined up in the bet365 Mares' Hurdle but it certainly did not lack for drama.


Harry Skelton set out to ensure there was no hiding place for Cheltenham's surprise heroine and there was a strong pace on his guaranteed stayer Kateira (2-1).


Lorcan Williams appeared pleased enough till the turn for home, when it appeared that Golden Ace (4-11 preferred) had lacked fuel and she was allowed to coast home, beaten 28 lengths.


Scott said: "I believe we came up versus a match-fit horse and she's taken a little bit of a blow, we understood she wasn't fully wound-up - but that was disappointing.


"We were up versus a mare who stays well and they went hard. Maybe it was the quicker ground and the fact it was her first run of the season.


Connections of Golden Ace ponder what took place (Nick Robson/PA)


"Hopefully something appears, you constantly want a factor, something will come out in the wash and I'm sorry she didn't run much better. I needed to get up really early to get here and I was wishing for a very excellent run.


"She was full of beans, she had actually been so well in the house, perhaps it was the taking a trip. Entering the bend Lorcan stated she felt terrific, but then Harry kicked and she flattened out.


"She most likely wasn't as straight as I believed however nevertheless, it was frustrating. It wasn't entirely the ground as she simply stopped.


"Harry is tactically very conscious and put us to the sword."


Dan Skelton was not getting carried away by the victory however has always ranked his mare.


"I'm truly pleased but certainly you have to take the kind with a pinch of salt due to the fact that to my eyes the other mare was beaten after the very first," he stated.


"They winged along after the that. She 'd been off the track for a while with an elaborate hips injury however while she only beat one horse, she looked as excellent as ever.


"Se might go to Ascot for a ₤ 100,000 race in a few weeks."


Scott later on informed the stewards that Golden Ace had actually scoped unclean, although the veterinary officer "took a look at the mare post-race throughout routine screening and had absolutely nothing to report".