Dixie Lee recorded her third win at Down Royal, as she took the opener at the northern venue, the www.thetote.com Mares Hurdle.

Successful here in September, the Dermot McLoughlin trained seven-year-old was last seen finishing a close third to Ancient Sands at Listowel earlier this month.

Sent off at 11/4 this evening, she raced in rear under Mark Enright, taking closer order on the outer from the third last.

She came with her challenge from the next, and hit the front before the last, keeping on well from there to score by three and a quarter lengths.

The 15/8 favourite Holding Pattern had to settle for second under Barry Geraghty for Jessica Harrington, while the front-running Mrs Lovett (11/4 to 9/4) was another five lengths back in third.

Dermot McLoughlin said: "Mark (Enright) said she was cantering everywhere he went, he had plenty of horse. He didn't want to hit the front too soon and he said she loved that ground. They went a grand gallop and she settled well.

"She just got unlucky the last day in Listowel, it was probably a bigger field. She enjoys herself on that ground and we'll see what we do next - I think we'll look at Galway.

"It's good for the boss man (owner Pat Conway), he's local."

Additional reporting by Michael Graham