River bolts up in Down Royal opener

When Riverscape finally shed her maiden tag over flights she did so it style, sauntering to a three and a half length success in the opening Pat O'Hare Bookmakers Mares Novice Hurdle at Down Royal.

The well-backed favourite led before two out under Paul Carberry and it was all plain from there home, despite getting in a bit tight to the last, as the well-bred daughter of Peintre Celebre went on to easily account for Patseysister

Winning trainer Gordon Elliott said of the ex-Lady Clague-owned Amanda Perrett-trained Folkestone mile and a quarter maiden winner: "It wasn't a great race but it's good that she's won. She'll probably go for a novice hurdle next in a few weeks. It's great for the owners too, I'm delighted for them.

"There's three of them (the Fresh By Nature Syndicate). They are all from North Dublin, the Malahide area. They've been into racing for ten to fifteen years, this is their first winner, so it's great for them."