Westerner Mare Adds Easy Listed Win To Growing CV

The progressive Skyace (5m Westerner - Graigace, by Milan) registered her second consecutive black-type win on Sunday, when taking the Listed Voler La Vedette Mares Novice Hurdle at Punchestown.

The daughter of Westerner has proved a revelation since joining the John Joseph Hanlon stable; for whom she won her first two starts and was last seen taking a Grade 3 contest at Down Royal. Stepping back up to two and a half miles on her latest start, she raced towards the back of the field under Jody McGarvey and began to make good headway from the fourth last. Disputing from the penultimate flight, she was soon in front and was pushed out win by five lengths.

McGarvey was full of praise for the winner, later saying, “She's improving all the time, jumped beautifully and she stays well. She galloped right to the line and is getting better with every run.”

Owned by the Birdinthehand Syndicate, Skyace was bred by Breandan Long out of the unraced Milan mare Graigace.