Newcomer Liam another for Fahey

Laoch Liam continued the excellent run of form of the Peter Fahey yard, as she ran out a good winner of the bumper at Down Royal, the Mencap INH Flat Race under Katie Walsh.

Fahey saddled a double at Fontwell on June 15th, and was also successful with Peregrine Run at Wexford on Wednesday last.

Laoch Liam, who was making her debut here, was sold for E6,000 as a foal, and is out Grangeclare Gold who won five times for the late Dessie Hughes, finishing second in a Grade 3 over flights at Down Royal in 2009.

Sent off at 12/1, available at 16s this morning, the bay filly was settled towards rear. She took closer order from four furlongs out and went pursuit of the leaders from with over two furlongs left to race.

She was ridden to challenge on the outer with over a furlong left to go, and soon hit the front, keeping on well to score by three and three parts of a length. Tadhgs Girl (backed from 4s to 3s on-course) had to settle for second under Lisa O'Neill for Gordon Elliott, while Gagas Horse (4/1) was nine lengths back in third for Finian and Adrian Maguire. Los Alamos was sent off the 4/6 favourite (from 4/5) and he could only manage a disappointing fourth with Patrick Mullins in the saddle for Joseph O'Brien.

Katie Walsh said afterwards: "She's very well bred. I'd say she was quite green to be honest. She ran around a bit when she got there so there's plenty of improvement to come from her. I love the way she was after doing that.

"The two of them pulled clear and I mean the second horse had all the allowances being a four-year-old and Lisa (O'Neill) claiming five. It was a good weight difference all the same so it was a very impressive performance. We didn't hang around, there were no hiding places here."

Additional reporting by Michael Graham