Scenic Looks justifies favouritism in Mares' Maiden

Scenic Look made her experience count as she ran out an easy winner of the Dale Farm Dromona Mares' Maiden Hurdle at Down Royal.

A winner on the flat at the Galway festival last month, she acquitted herself well when finishing fifth over hurdles just three days after.

With a handicap mark of 111, after seven starts over flights, the Adrian Murray trained four-year-old had a crucial edge over most of these less experienced rivals.

Denis O'Regan tracked the trail blazing Annaparnell for much of the race, before moving closer and taking over on the approach to three out. Come On Du Berlais threw down a determined challenge between the third and second last but didn't have the pace to go with the eventual winner.

The Workforce filly stamped her authority on the race after the last and powered clear to win easily.

Adrian Murray said: "We gave her a break after Galway and freshened her up and I was hoping that would bring her forward which it did.

"I was expecting her to win, but I wasn't expecting her to win as comfortably.

"She might come back here in a week's time for the handicap over two miles on the Flat.

"She'll do both (hurdles and Flat) and will mix and match.

"I'd say she wouldn't want it (ground) deep although she had a couple of good runs last winter in juvenile hurdles. Her best ground is probably good to yielding.

"The second run at Galway came a bit too quick and the ground didn't suit her at all. It was heavy going that day.

"Denis said he always thought he was in control."

Additional reporting by Michael Graham