Conor O’Dwyer was singing the praises of Champion Jockey Ruby Walsh following the trainer’s latest win at Downpatrick today, as his Floramar landed the White Horse Maiden Hurdle under a well judged Walsh ride.

Today’s race was confined to previously unplaced horses and Walsh was keen to hold on to Floramar before producing a late challenge. The pair moved to the front after the final flight and had enough in reserve to hold Up For Discussion for a four and a quarter lengths win.

O’Dwyer, who was having his 10th winner this summer, later said “that was an unbelievable ride! I'm Ruby’s biggest fan but that's as good a ride as I've seen him give a horse. He's not an easy horse and he doesn't help you, but my God I owe Ruby one!”

The Gold Cup and Champion Hurdle winning ex-jockey added “he (Floramar) works very, very well at home and I was delighted when I got the horse as I thought he was going to be a real nice horse but he has disappointed us twice for no reason. I don't think his heart was in the game but I think that man (Walsh) has changed his mind!

"I don't know if he wants that ground and didn't think he had the heart to battle but the other side of that, is that it slows them down. He has won his maiden and I'm delighted."

Floramar’s win was the third from as many runners O’Dwyer has had for owner Khaled Rahim, whose Flaming Sea and Mohayyen both won on the flat earlier this summer.

Quotes from Michael Graham