Canardier an easy winner of Down Royal opener

Canardier easily brushed aside his nineteen rivals in the opener at Down Royal, the Pat O'Hare Bookmakers Maiden Hurdle.

The Dermot McLouglin trained six-year-old won a bumper at the Punchestown Festival last year, before finishing a good third on his debut over flights at Fairyhouse in November.

He was hampered and lost all chance when coming with his challenge at Leopardstown on St Stephen's Day, but he was expected to make up for that mishap today, going off the 5/4 favourite.

Settled behind the leaders by Andrew Lynch, the French bred gelding improved to challenge on the outer from the second last.

He soon hit the front and went a few lengths clear before the last, keeping on strongly from there, winning easily by six and a half lengths. Curious Times (10/1) finished second under JJ Slevin for Stuart Crawford, while Colwinston (14/1) was another two and a quarter lengths back in third for Rachael Blackmore and Suzy Barkley. Judgement Day who was backed from 9/4 to 7/4 on-course, finished fourth after jumping poorly.

McLoughlin said: "He (Andrew Lynch) said he loved that ground. We were waiting on that ground all year. He got a bit of a blip at Leopardstown when he was travelling well in the straight and he nearly got knocked down. He'll learn a bit from today.

"When he won his bumper we thought he was a nice horse. He was in a long time without running which wasn't good but we freshened him up a bit.

"We might look for a nice novice and step him up in trip - maybe somewhere like Galway."

STEWARDS REPORTS

S.D. Torrens, rider of Back To Bataan trained by Mervyn Torrens, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount hung left throughout.

D.N. Russell, rider of Judgement Day trained by Henry de Bromhead, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount made jumping errors throughout.

Additional reporting by Michael Graham