Westerners Son and Conor Maxwell © Photo Healy Racing
Westerners Son proved a fine advertisement for blinkers when overcoming two previous pulled-up efforts to made all and land the Hospitality At Naas Handicap Chase at Naas today, for trainer Dermot McLoughlin and jockey Conor Maxwell at odds of 20/1.
The son of Westerner had worn blinkers three times in 2013/14 and not since January 2014 and was coming into today’s race having pulled up on each of his last two starts. However today he appeared much sharper and blitzed his rivals when making all for a four and a quarter lengths win over Squouateur to score a fifth career success.
McLoughlin, whose Vics Canvas filed third place in last year’s Aintree Grand National, later commented “it was a good performance and Conor (Maxwell) said he loved the ground.
“He got kicked at the start at Leopardstown and was a bit sore and we put the blinkers back on today and they obviously worked and he got his own way in front.
“I don’t know where we’ll go now but that was a nice pot to win.”
By Tom Weekes, quotes from Gary Carson
