No matter the obstacles, if there are any, the 7-year-old mare La Bague Au Roi knows how to win.

Thursday at Newbury Racecourse in England, La Bague Au Roi (15-8) won her steeplechase debut in a Beginners' Chase at 2 3-4 miles. Ridden by English champion jump jockey Richard Johnson, La Bague Au Roi stalked pacesetter Lost In Translation for the first two miles before taking a narrow lead over the last fence, winning by 1 1-4 lengths.

A French-bred mare, La Bague Au Roi won for the 11th time in her 15-race career. She won a Grade 2 Mares' Hurdle at Ascot last January and was later seventh in the Grade 1 Mares' Hurdle at Cheltenham last March.

Thursday is opening day of Newbury fall and winter jump season, which is highlighted by the $325,000 Ladbrokes Trophy Chase, a handicap at 3 1-4 miles, on Dec. 1.