Meri Devie shows her class on Irish debut

Meri Devie put in an impressive performance at Foxrock as she came home clear in the three-year-old maiden hurdle.

The French import, who was more than useful on the Flat in her native country, had Easy Pass within her sights and closed up on the leader coming to the penultimate flight.

Upon landing, she assumed the lead and tanked along under Ruby Walsh with Landsman joining her for company. Housesofparliament who was third in the St Leger, wound up his challenge approaching the last but Meri Devie got into full stride on the run-in and drew clear by five lengths.

The winner was returned the 11/8 favourite from 2/1. Housesofparliament took a walk in the market from 11/10 to 13/8.

Landsman couldn't go with the front two and was seven and a half lengths back in third at 20/1.

Willie Mullins said: “She was very impressive. On that performance I think she looks a Triumph horse but she could go for the mares' novice also.

“At the moment I’d be looking at the Triumph as we don’t have too many in that department. That’s where I’d be trying to put her anyway.

“We think she’ll improve hugely. She was very, very green in all the schooling we did with her at home.

“We got a nice lead in the race the whole away until the last when she was in front.

“I just said to Ruby 'make up your own mind after you turn in, if you are lucky enough to be in a position, whether you try and go on at the last or get a lead over it'.

“He did what he did and she did it well.

“She had been very, very green at home and is learning at the time. I think she’ll get better.”

Ruby Walsh added: "She quickened up well but she was a mile-and-a-quarter filly on the Flat.

“She showed a good turn of foot and it was a nice performance.

“It was a different race yesterday. We went a really good gallop then and went very slow today so you probably couldn’t compare them.

“She jumped fine and should improve a bit.

“The ground is slower than yesterday. I don’t know why, we must have been on the summer tracks or something. It definitely rode slower than yesterday and we had no rain so I can’t really explain it.”

This gave Willie Mullins a quick-fire across-the-card double as Some Neck took Limerick's opener.

Additional reporting by Gary Carson