Listen Dear earned a 10/1 quote from Paddy Power for the new Dawn Run Mares' Novice Hurdle at Cheltenham in March when taking the EBF Lough Construction Ltd. Mares Novice Hurdle in impressive fashion at Down Royal.

The Willie Mullins-trained 7/4 favourite made all, and was in total command from three out in this two-mile Grade 3 event.

Ruby Walsh set a strong pace on the daughter of Robin Des Champs, with Dragon Fei the only one to try and keep tabs on the market leader.

She galloped on strongly in the straight, and Walsh didn't have to move a muscle as she came home 16 lengths clear of Colla Pier Rathmuck Native was a further four lengths away in third, while Dragon Fei weakened back to fifth.

Walsh said, "I didn't expect her to win as comprehensively as she did. Patrick (Mullins) said to go a good gallop on her as she has one gear and will keep going. I couldn't believe when I had a look at the second last how far clear we were.

"The ground was a bit of an unknown but she jumped like a buck and you could see her jumping a fence too."

(MG & AM)