Promising Airlie Beach to take next step at Down Royal

Airlie Beach is set to put her unbeaten record on the line at Down Royal on Friday week.

The daughter of Shantou has won each of her five starts to date, most recently impressing in Listed company at Gowran Park.

She is set to step up to Grade Three level for the first time in County Antrim for a race owners the Supreme Horse Racing Club won with Listen Dear 12 months ago.

The syndicate's racing manager, Steve Massey, said: "Airlie Beach is in great form and all being well goes to Down Royal for the Grade Three mares' novices' hurdle on the Friday.

"Our only worry would be coming back to two miles. She has done all of her running over around two-and-a-half, so we'll have to see how she copes.

"She has plenty of pace and with it being a Grade Three, we're happy to let her take her chance.

"She's unbeaten and hopefully still improving, so it's exciting times for her owners."

Listen Dear was sidelined for almost eight months after her Down Royal triumph of last season, but has picked up where she left off.

The Robin Des Champs mare returned to Down Royal to make a successful reappearance in June before making an impressive start to her career over fences at Ballinrobe in September.

Massey said: "Listen Dear is really well and we're hoping to have her out again in the next week or two.

"She's entered in a mares' chase at Thurles on November 3, or we could take her to Bangor for a Listed race on November 9."