Smart Son Of Westerner Returns To Form

Western Fold (5g Westerner – Fieldtown, by Anshan) produced a smart performance to run out a clear winner of the Rated Novice Hurdle at Down Royal on Tuesday.

Gordon Elliott’s charge shaped like a useful type on debut when finishing third in the valuable Land Rover Bumper and got off the mark earlier this season when bolting up in a maiden hurdle. Dropping back to two miles and one furlong on Tuesday, he raced in touch for much of the way and improved to lead before the second last. Pushed out from the final flight, he kept on well to beat the short-priced favourite by 15 lengths.

Western Fold was bought by his trainer with Bobby O’Ryan at the Goffs Land Rover Sale for €82,000. Owned by Weldspec and Dee l'Estrange, the Martin Dibbs-bred bay has a four-year-old full-brother to run.