No problems for Dear in Down Royal opener

The Willie Mullins trained Listen Dear made all to take the opener at Down Royal, the www.thetote.com Mares Hurdle, in the colours of the Supreme Horse Racing Club.

Successful on her second start over hurdles at Clonmel last September, the six-year-old daughter of Robin Des Champs then won a Grade 3 over the course and distance in October.

Making her return to action this evening, she was sent off the 9/10 favourite, and she soon held a clear lead under Danny Mullins.

Her advantage was reduced from four out, but she had little difficultly in brushing aside the challenge of both The Nutcracker and Tocororo from the second last, keeping on well on the run-in to score by four and a half lengths.

The Nutcracker (9/2) filled the runner-up spot under Mark Flanagan for Tom Gibney, while the well-backed Tocororo (11/2 this morning and from 5's to 3's on-course) was three parts of a length back in third under Jack Kennedy for Gordon Elliott.

Danny Mullins said afterwards: "It was a good spin. She's a nice filly, she'll probably improve a little bit from that. That was her first run since last October. Hopefully she'll pick up plenty more of them, Willie is handy at placing them.

"I just wanted to fill up the tank and let the lads come to me so I had something to quicken with again but you know it's easy to ride those ones.

"It's good ground, lovely jumping ground."

Additional reporting by Michael Graham