Gritty Roedora records second Down Royal success

The 9/4 favourite Roedora gained her second bumper win at Down Royal when showing good battling qualities in the Tayto Group Ltd (Mares) INH Flat Race.

A debut winner at this venue in June and second at Killarney in the interim, the half-sister to useful hurdler San Salvador led from early in the straight and saw off the persistent challenge of eventual third Wild Mandate but looked beaten when headed by Tomavian in the final hundred yards. The Joseph O'Brien-trained winner, owned by his sister Sarah, was not to be denied though and rallied to score by a head, thereby denying Tomavian's trainer Gordon Elliott a four-timer on the card.

Winning rider Tom Hamilton said: "I got there a little soon, but to be fair she toughed it out well. She was very good.

"We tipped along and they were hanging out at the top bend and I took a position, got through when I could rather than getting boxed in.

"She was tough up to the line. It (will to win) is a big help. The pedigreee shines through and she is tough and hardy."

Quotes from Michael Graham