Voler impresses on seasonal debut

The first of three Graded races down for this decision at Navan this afternoon, the Grade 2 Lismullen Hurdle, went to the Colm Murphy trained Voler La Vedette with Andrew Lynch in the saddle.

The daughter of King's Theatre ran her usually race today, settled at the rear of the field for much of the race, improving on the outside before they entered the straight.

She hit the front at the second last and wasn’t troubled from there going on to record a comfortable three and quarter length victory. Fully Funded ran on well on the run-in to finish second at 6/1 under Paul Carberry while the 7/4 favourite Mikael D’Haguenet ran a decent race on his first start since May finishing a further four lengths back in third.

The winner, who was sent off the 2/1 second favourite, was recording her eleventh career victory today and was having her first run of the season.

Winning trainer Colm Murphy said afterwards: "She is stronger and she’s been easier to train. She will more than likely go for the Hattons Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse in two weeks time.

"She gets two and a half miles really well and she settled well today. Andrew (Lynch) knows her very well.

"I was a bit worried as she was going so well at home and she never works well at home."

Stan James now quote the winner at just 10/1 from 16's for the David Nicholson Mares Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March.