Our Roxane on the up and could be Dublin Racing Festival bound Our Roxane defied top-weight to get favourite backers off to a winning start on a foggy Thyestes day at Gowran. This Langton House Hotel Handicap Hurdle saw Our Roxane (11/4) bid to double up after a Limerick win 27 days back. Again Kevin Brouder was in the saddle and the successful Flemensfirth mare proved up to the task, by two lengths and three parts of a length from Blanketontheground and Birdie Blitz. Terence O’Brien has care of Our Roxane for the Woodstock Partnership and the Cork trainer commented: “To be honest about it I would have been disappointed if she was beaten today. She was in great form and I definitely thought she would be there or thereabouts today. “The ground seems to be key to her and she’s staying together and holding her training well. We’re delighted with her. “You might think I’m mad but I gave her an entry in the 100,000 (Paddy Mullins) mares handicap hurdle at Leopardstown (on February 2). She might just sneak into the bottom of that and if she does I’ll let her take her chance. “If she comes out of this alright that’s where she’ll go. She’s a fine big mare and she could jump a fence as well.” Meanwhile Brouder said: “She handles it very well (heavy ground) and she’s a tough filly. “She done everything right today. She jumped a little bit right when she was wrong. She was always putting herself right and done it really well. “Once you are within half a furlong you can see them (the hurdles). Going around on the flat you’re kind of in no man’s land. “Once you’re in line you can see them (the hurdles). Jumping the second last you could see the last. “Going down the back, coming around the bend you can’t see anything — straighten up though and you can see the hurdle there again.” (AM & EM)
