Victory shows her class in Down Royal opener

Western Victory asserted on the run-in to justify her short price in the opening Mares Hurdle at Down Royal this afternoon.

The Declan Queally-trained mare went to post a 2/7 shot in the two-miler and it proved straight-forward enough.

Shane Fitzgerald tracked the front-runner Bonarc before moving up to challenge three from home.

Western Victory hit the front before the second last where Make My Heart Fly came through to press the hotpot.

The favourite pulled away in good style on the run-in, however, to post a six-length success.

Western Victory was switching back to timber having been third in the 'Mayo National' last time out.

Declan Queally junior, who was leading the winner up, said: "She was thrown in on ratings. She'll get an entry in the Galway Plate, she has a bit of class so we'll see. If Samcro runs in it, she'll only have 10-3. That could be her next run."

Shane Fitzgerald added: "Look she's unreal. I've been lucky enough to ride her twice before this and she ran a cracker in the Mayo National. She's just a class mare.

"Nearly the only thing that could have got her beaten today was me!

"The further she goes the better. I was halfway down the back before I pulled her up, she finished full of running."

(Quotes by Michael Graham)