Classy return by Voler La Vedette

VOLER LA VEDETTE made an impressive return to action when repeating last year’s win in the listed Grabel Mares Hurdle at Punchestown yesterday.

Colm Murphy’s mare, in the hands of Barry Geraghty, oozed class throughout, jumping fluently and was produced to challenge on the home-turn before forging clear to beat Star Wood by three lengths, without being asked a serious question. Elyaadi, the winner’s chief market rival, finished a well-beaten third.

The performance pleased trainer Murphy who enthused: “I’m delighted to get that out of the way. She came here a little bit under-cooked and will improve an awful lot off it. She’ll come back here for the ‘Morgiana’ and, after a couple of runs, we’ll decide on plans. But we won’t be getting carried away. And she won’t be going on her travels this side of Christmas.”