Prince returns to winner’s enclosure in style

Without a win over hurdles since his maiden success at Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting in 2009, Prince Of Fire proved am emphatic winner of the Tayto Group Hurdle at Down Royal last night.

Trained for J P McManus by Charlie Swan, the versatile seven-year-old edged past front-running Distant Memories at the second last before stretching clear to score by five lengths, prompting Swan to comment: “He needs good ground. That’s why David went wide all the way and it worked.”

He added: “He’s a gorgeous big horse, a lovely mover. He’s been hard to place, but has won over hurdles and fences, and in Dundalk. He’ll go back over fences now.”