Westerner Lady and Ruby Walsh pictured on their way to victory© Photo Healy Racing
Westerner Lady justified favouritism in the feature at Killarney this evening, Paddy Power Now On The Racing Post App Handicap Hurdle.
A winner of three last season, the daughter of Westerner was sent off the 4/1 favourite this evening with Ruby Walsh in the saddle (his sole mount on the card).
Having raced a bit keen in second, the Willie Mullins trained six-year-old got to the front after the fifth flight.
She extended her advantage from the same last, and never came off the bridle, going on to score by two and three parts of a length. Ibsen (10's to 8's) finished second under Kevin Sexton for Gordon Elliott, while Your Busy (12/1), who won this race in 2013, was two and a half lengths back in third under Katie Walsh for James Nash.
Ruby Walsh said afterwards: "She jumped like a buck - we knew she'd stay as she won over two mile seven and three miles and it was a good gallop all the way.
"She attacked her hurdles and stayed really well. She's a mare that will go chasing sooner rather than later and there's a two mile six beginners chase at Tramore on August 14th."
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
