Chevalier Country Scores at Down Royal

Jim Gorman ran two in the Grade One Durkan New Homes Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown on St Stephen's Day and both have won their maidens since, Ready To Rocknroll at Gowran and now Chevalier Country at Down Royal.

Left in front from the first under David Casey, the 3/1 shot was headed from two out, but fought back on the run-in to prevail from Colleoni by a length. Fool's Wildcat and Almolahek were close enough in third and fourth. Timari (7/2 in the morning into 7/4) disappointed back in fifth.

Gorman said: "Ideally the race didn't pan out for him, he'd never been in front like that before. The pace was a bit slow but he stayed at it in the end. He is entered in the Triumph and will get an entry in the Fred Winter but he'd want to do more than he did there - I won't be taking him over for the Cheltenham air.

"He could go to Fairyhouse next Tuesday or for the Grade 2 there at the end of the month." (EM)