Western Victory continues on upward curve Western Victory made it two wins from as many starts since joining Declan Queally this season when taking the Pat Walsh Memorial Irish EBF Mares Hurdle in impressive fashion at Gowran Park. The six-year-old daughter of Westerner made all over 2m5f at Galway last month and was again prominently ridden when dropped to two miles in this Listed event. Sean Flanagan sent the well-backed 6/4 favourite to the front after the second flight and she took control from two out staying on strongly on the run-in to score by seven lengths. Surin made a few mistakes and could only keep on at one pace in the straight to take the runner-up spot, with Awayinthewest a further four and a half lengths adrift in third. Flanagan said, “That was probably short enough for her and I was anxious to make as much use of her as I could. She’s done it really easily. “The further I went the more she picked up and galloped away to the line. She has a big future on softer ground.”
