Western Victory toughs it out to sign off in style for Declan Queally

Thursday: Clonmel

An eighth success for Western Victory could well have been her last as the mare, trained and ridden by Declan Queally, goes to the sales at Cheltenham next week.

Setting out to make all in the feature 3m hurdle, she had a clear lead most of the way, but looked there for the taking when favourite Minx Tiara came to head her at the second-last. However, she battled back to lead again after the last and stretched clear of her weary opponent to score by 11 lengths.

"She's unbelievable," said Queally. "She's going to the sales at Cheltenham next week as a broodmare or maybe to give her new owner a bit of fun as a racemare.

"Her owner Sean O'Neill is elderly and doesn't want to breed off her. If you were looking for a tough and versatile racehorse then this is the one you'd want. It might be her last run for me, but if her new owners want to race on, I'll be very happy to keep her."

Moon rises to the occasion for Whelan

Queally completed a double and young jockey Dylan Whelan rode his first winner when Lovely Moon bolted up half an hour later in the opportunity handicap hurdle.

It could not have been more straightforward for Whelan as he just had to point and steer from the front, but he did it with aplomb and Lovely Moon went clear to account for Brosna Rocco by 18 lengths.

Whelan, 21, from Stradbally in Waterford, said: "I'm learning all the time. I haven't ridden a whole lot but it's great that I'm getting these opportunities with Declan. That was my 12th ride for him as a professional."

Queally said: "It's brilliant for him. He's been with me five or six months. He broke a bone in his ankle at Roscommon a couple of months ago but he's worked hard to get back and it's great for him. He can do a light weight so we'll be using him to claim off plenty of horses."

Gordon provides relief for Burke

After a tough couple of weeks during which he has admitted he has considered not renewing his licence, Liam Burke will have been relieved to get back to training winners after the very promising Gordon Dai Dai landed the opening amateur riders' maiden hurdle.

The five-year-old impressed in readily accounting for well supported favourite Fameaftertheglory by four and a half lengths.

Burke, who was caught up in the fallout from the high-profile raid on a County Kildare stud farm by officials from the Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine last month, said: "He had a good run the last day and he didn't see it out but today we took our time.

"He jumped well and James Hannon gave him a perfect ride. He has always promised to be a good horse."

Results, replays and analysis

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