Joy proves a gift in the bumper

Joy's Gift gave a boost to the form of impressive Galway Festival winner Queen Deirdre when taking the Dale Farm Mares INH Flat Race at Down Royal.

The Peter Maher-trained mare was second at Ballybrit having previously shown promise at Roscommon and Clonmel, and put all that experience to good use here.

Finny Maguire produced the 7/2 chance to challenge over a furlong out as the race narrowed down to a three-horse affair.

The daughter of Mr Dinos kept on well in the closing stages and had three lengths to spare at the line. Hide The Biscuit took the runner-up spot, with Amarillo Rose just a neck further back in third.

Maher commented afterwards, “She'll win a race or two over hurdles."

(MG & AM)