Voler La Vedette eases to Christmas Hurdle victory

Report: Leopardstown, Wednesday

woodiesdiy.com Christmas Hurdle (Grade 2) 4yo+, 3m

VOLER LA VEDETTE beat Mourad to Graded glory for the second time in a month with a slick performance at Leopardstown on Wednesday.

The seven-year-old mare defeated Mourad in the Grade 1 Hatton's GraceHurdle at Fairyhouse in early December and easily confirmed that form, off 2lb worse terms, with a four-and-three-quarter length win.

Mourad wasbacked heavily before the off and went off 4-5 favourite, settling into second behind his Willie Mullins-trained stablemate Shakervilz.

Winning trainer Colm Murphy said: "We had our hearts set on the race tomorrow since she ran the last day, but the ground changed our minds for us.

"We're spoilt for choice now and have lots of options. If it came up soft again we’d go back to two miles and if it was good we’d go to three."

William Hill inserted Voler La Vedette in the World Hurdle market at 12-1 and cut her to 4-1 (from 8) for the David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle, as did Paddy Power. Stan James initially went 4-1 but later cut her to 7-2, reporting money for the mare.

However, owner Margaret Brophy added: "I don't really want to go to Cheltenham."

The race was notable for an extraordinary in-running market on Betfair. Over £800,000 was matched on the winner at 28-1, although all in-running bets were later voided and the error blamed on a technical failure.