Well backed Vic Chic scores for Weston

The well-supported Julie Weston trained Vic Chic kept on well under Martin Ferris to take the www.tipperaryraces.ie handicap hurdle.

The 6yo daughter of Old Vic opened at 16/1 overnight with Paddy Powers before opening on course at 12/1. She was then backed from 12's into 13/2 at the off.

Having chased the leaders for much of the contest she closed up and was travelling well from before the straight.

She hit the front from before two out and was ridden to assert at the last, staying on well on the run-in to score by six lengths. Western Man finished second at 10/1 for Ronald O’Leary with David Casey in the saddle while the front running Whatdreamsrmadeof was a further seven lengths back in third at 9/1 under Roger Loughran for Tom Foley.

Coming back from nearly a year long break, Clash Rebel went off the (opened 4/1 on-course, 5/1 this morning) 7/2 favourite for Fran Flood and Paul Townend but she never looked like winning and pulled up before the second last.

Weston, who trains in Killenaule, said afterwards: "My father John owns and bred this horse. She is my second winner. I’ve had my licence a couple of years and I have two in training.

"She is an honest mare and likes the soft ground."

Weston was recording her first win on Irish soil having saddled Chinara (half-sister to the winner) to victory twice in the UK at Ludlow in 2008 and Worcester in 2009.

(On-course reporting by Thomas Weekes)