When a mare starts improving you don’t know where they’ll stop, is a well worn line at this stage, but it would seem apt again in the case of La Chanteuse impressive winner of the Molson Coors Rated Novice Hurdle at Down Royal.

Larne and the Northern Ireland Protocol have been in the news plenty recently, and the Crawfords in the County Antrim town will likely be hoping to travel plenty, as they often do, with the progressive La Chanteuse.

They can go where they want now as the only mare in a talented six horse field dished out a thirteen length beating to favourite, On Eagles Wings

The successful daughter of Scorpion went clear approaching the last for her comprehensive win in the hands of J J Slevin.

"She loves those conditions and that race today conditions wise probably suited her,” said winning trainer Stuart Crawford.

"I really wanted to go back to Fairyhouse for the mares' graded race which has obviously been rescheduled for Monday.

"A big factor in me coming here today was that I wanted JJ (Slevin) to ride her again. He got on really well with her and he has given her a good ride today. I wasn't going to be able to get him (in Fairyhouse).

"Hopefully we can look for something else. She probably deserves to go in and take a wee chance in one of those (graded races).

"I haven't really looked at what there is across the water for her but there are a couple of races here for her. We'll see what we can do.

"She didn't have to make the running today as I thought there was a bit more pace on. He was content to track them and he was handy enough.

"Once she got going at the top of the hill, unless she made a mistake, there was only one winner.

"The way she jumped she is cut out for jumping fences - she was ballooning them. Hopefully there is a future in her.

"She'll (mother Edith, owner) think it is easy now!

"She was bought to sell originally and we didn't get her sold. We'll run away with her and see how we get on. She has a pedigree to make a good broodmare. A wee bit of black-type against her own name would fairly seal that."

The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer examined Clondaw Secret trained by Gordon Elliott, at the request of the Stewards and reported the animal to be post race normal. Samples were taken for analysis.

(MG & EM)