Easy win for Memphis & Moore

Walking In Memphis ran out an easy winner of the opener at Downpatrick this afternoon, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Maiden Hurdle.

Previously trained by Jerry Cosgrave, the daughter of Jeremy had her first run for Gavin Cromwell over the course and distance last month, finishing second to Coolongolook.

She since finished fifth in a handicap at Clonmel, and was sent off the 9/4 favourite today with Jonathan Moore in the saddle.

Settled behind the leaders, the Neville Reid owned five-year-old cruised to the front shortly after the last and never came off the bridle, going on to score by eleven lengths. Amor Verdadero (3/1) finished second under Davy Russell for Gordon Elliott, while Villa Moura (4/1) was a further three parts of a length back in third, with Rachael Blackmore, returning from injury aboard this one.

Moore said: "Everything happened well for us there today. I got a nice lead off the front two as they took each other on a bit and she has done it well in the end.

"She probably liked the bit of ease in the ground and thankfully she got her head in front.

"Last week in Clonmel I would say it was the ground more than anything. I'm delighted with her, she travelled and jumped great today and she was right today.

"Gavin (Cromwell) said the ease in the ground would probably suit her and thankfully it did."

Additional reporting by Michael Graham