Westernerona powers home to land spoils

The Garrett Power-trained Westernerona lunged late to land the spoils in the Virtual Live Racing Handicap Hurdle at Downpatrick.

Front-runner Natural Breeze and Withallduerespect battled it out from before the last in the two-mile-two contest with the later hanging left to the stand's rail up the hill.

Natural Breeze looked set to score after regaining the advantage but was collared close home as Westernerona flew home under Simon Torrens to win going away by three-and-a-quarter lengths.

The 9/1 winner (as big as 25/1 before racing) was bouncing back to form having been pulled up on her last outing at Punchestown in late May.

The winning trainer was on lead up duty and Torrens said afterwards:-

"It is a sharp track here and she was on her head most of the way, she was struggling to lie-up. I wanted to be a lot handier than I was.

"That plan kind of went out the window and I just had to take my time and hopefully see if she would stay up the hill.

"In fairness to her, she was good and game. I got a good jump at the last and she stayed well up the hill.

"She could come back here again but would probably appreciate a bit further. She did it well enough today so we will take it."

(Quotes by Michael Graham)