Shotgun Shirley is ready for a big step up

SHOTGUN

- By CHRIS PHILLIPS

Shirley can make her hurdling debut a winning one in the Doyle & Palmer Wealth Management Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at Fontwell.The four-year-old returned from a 212-day break in a Uttoxeter bumper in October and looked like she had never been away as she galloped to a three-quarters-of-a-length victory in Staffordshire.

She was then stepped up in grade at Cheltenham’s November meeting and found only Celestial Tune too good, beaten three lengths into second at Prestbury Park.