Ryan Treacy celebrated his first win after a lengthy spell on the sidelines when Fleurys Fort landed the O2 Office 365 Handicap Hurdle at Down Royal on Friday evening.

The 5lb claiming rider only returned from 10 months off the track a couple of weeks ago after suffering injuries in a fall in the Galway Plate last summer.

Things didn't look too promising as he was applying full pressure on Fleury's Fort after being short of room, with By The Banks apparently cruising in front.

Leslie Young's 11-1 chance found plenty for Treacy's pressure, though, and he bounded clear after the last to score by three and a quarter lengths.

Tipperary-based Young said: "He got his ground and everything went to plan. It was a competitive 20-runner race.

"It was a long way up, four and a half hours. We weren't coming for the fresh air!"

LUCKY ESCAPE

Jockey Darragh Maher appears to have escaped serious injury after suffering a heavy fall on his first ever ride under rules at the meeting.

Maher was riding the Gordon Elliott-trained Cullentry Royal in the Workpal Handicap Hurdle when he game to grief two flights from the finish.

He was taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital Belfast for further assessment, but the Turf Club's chief medical officer, Adrian McGoldrick, is pleased to report there is no lasting damage.

McGoldrick said: "He was heavily concussed - he didn't even know his own name when he left the track - but he called his parents half an hour later and I'm told he's grand.

"It was his first ride and his parents were watching on TV, so it's not the best of starts for him, but the main thing is he's all right."

READ THE FULL DOWN ROYAL REPORT IN THE IRISH FIELD