THE Big Westerner delivered the star performance on the second day of Limerick’s Christmas Festival as the 11/8 chance got the better of market rival Jade De Grugy in an exciting renewal of the McMahon’s Builders Providers Irish EBF Dawn Run Mares Novice Steeplechase.

Second in the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham, the Henry De Bromhead-trained six-year-old had also been runner-up on her chasing debut at Fairyhouse. Here, she led from early and jumped well in the main under Mike O’Connor. Jade De Grugy joined issue on the run to the second-last but a faster jump at the final fence carried The Big Westerner to a two and three-quarter-length success in the colours of Coolmara Stables Limited.