Susan battles gamely to beat market leaders

Ask Susan over turned her better fancied market rivals, as she took the opener at Down Royal, the www.thetote.com Mares Hurdle. Is She Diesel and Penny Jane battled it out for favouritism, with the former going off the 11/8 market leader, the latter returned at 6/4. Ask Susan who won a bumper at Tramore last year and a maiden hurdle at Thurles in March, went off the third choice of punters at 7/2.

Prominent early on, the daughter of Ask was soon settled in second by Mark Enright. She improved to dispute the lead from three out and was ridden to the front before the next.

Is She Diesel then came with her challenge on the outer, but the John Nicholson trained victor proved hard to pass, battling on gamely on the run-in to see off the favourite by three parts of a length.

The runner-up ran around at times under Rachael Blackmore, and put in some sloppy jumps, including perhaps a costly one at the last.

The front two went eighteen lengths clear of Penny Jane who was third under Davy Russell for Gordon Elliott.

Nicholson, who also owns the winner, said afterwards: "She needed the break, the last day the ground was terrible. We gave her a good break and she is only back in six weeks.

"We thought she was working fairly well. I was coming with the other lad (Fort Montagu) and I said I would bring her and I'm glad I did.

"Mark said she has improved a lot from the spring. She jumped great, she would rather have those hurdles. They are cracking hurdles. We have a lot of options with her. If she stays winning hurdle races we will keep her at that.

"I loved her from day one. She's a half sister to that filly that Gordon Elliott had that got the black type earlier in the year (Three Swallowsnick). She's a good mare and I bought her in Goffs as a yearling and loved her always.

"Great attitude, you could take her anywhere. Chasing will be her game. We can stay winning hurdle races then go chasing. I'm looking forward to the summer."

Additional reporting by Michael Graham