Twenty Four Years was made to work hard to lands the odds in the mares maiden hurdle at Downpatrick.

Tony Martin's charge was a well backed 8/13 shot having been as big as 11/10 this morning. Paul Townend's mount won the early battle for the lead and looked in control going to the second last.

A slight error there put her under pressure however and she had to dig deep when Idee Emery threw down a challenge at the last.

The Definite Article mare was all out in the closing stages of the run-in to hold on for a half length success.

The winner had chased home easy scorer For Gortnatona at Wexford 11 days ago. Martin said afterwards:-

"She was idling a bit but it worked out well. We had the choice of going to Killarney but we came here because her owner Tommy Steele is a local man (from Lisburn). His brother is Robert Steele who rode as an amateur. I rode with him.

"She's a well-bred mare. She's a half-sister to Living Next Door and she'll be worth a bit for the paddocks now. She'll go to stud but we might go for a novice chase first."

(Additional reporting by Michael Graham)