Talented Mares Complete Impressive Double For Westerner

Love Envoi (5m Westerner - Love Divided, by King’s Ride) shaped like an exciting prospect on her rules debut when landing the Mares’ Maiden Hurdle at Leicester on Thursday.

Successful on her sole start in a point-to-point bumper for Sean Doyle, the bay was partnered by Lorcan Murtagh on her first start for the Harry Fry stable. Pulling hard for much of the way, she led approaching the penultimate flight and was ridden out on the run-in to win by a length and three quarters. The front pair drew 20 lengths clear of the field.

Owned by the Noel Fehily Racing Syndicate and bred by Ciaran O’Toole, Love Envoi completed a smart double on the day for Westerner, with Western Victory (8m Westerner - Zara’s Victory, by Old Vic) having run out an impressive winner of the earlier three mile hurdle at Clonmel.

Trainer Declan Queally, who also rode the winner, said after the race, “Western Victory is unbelievably tough. She goes to the sales next week and if you want a tough, versatile racehorse to breed off, this is the one you want.”

The S O’Neill owned bay is indeed tough, having won two Listed hurdles impressively over two miles and was narrowly denied in the Grade B Guinness Hurdle at the Galway Festival. Twice a winner and Grade 2 placed over fences, the nine-time winner was bred by Tim Conroy.