Queen supreme in Down Royal's first

Peter Fahey's Queen Alphabet lived up to her billing as 10/11 favourite, beating The Nutcracker by a convincing three and a quarter lengths, in the hands of Jonathan Burke, in the opening www.thetote.com (Mares) Hurdle at Down Royal.

Cathal Ennis, son of owner Carmel Ennis, said: "Peter (Fahey) is on holidays. She has been a little unlucky. She needs a good gallop. We took the hood off her and they went a good gallop. Johnny gave her a great ride.

"The more galloping track suited and she was 17lbs better off with The Nutcracker though we were still wary of her.

"We rode her more positively today and she stays two miles well. She has a high cruising speed.

"We could go for a 123-rated hurdle in Limerick on the 5th of July. Hopefully the handicapper wont go too hard on her."

The Ennis family are from Ballinagore, Co Westmeath.

(MG & EM)