Ace Brannigan looks a nice prospect for de Bromhead

The market got it right ahead of Tipperary's Donohue Marquees (C & G) Maiden Hurdle as Ace Brannigan (1/1 fav, from 9/4 before the off) got the better of Letos who was displaced as favourite and drifted from 4/5 to 6/4.

The market principals were up front throughout as the 120-rated Letos made the running but Ace Brannigan, trained for Anthony Head by Henry de Bromhead, took that one's measure on the home turn with two to jump and stayed on well to score by six and a half lengths.

“We liked him at home and he had schooled well,” said winning rider Darragh O’Keeffe.

“He had run well in a point-to-point and he was a bit unlucky in a bumper in Clonmel (carried out).

“He had been doing everything nice at home and I think he’ll come on plenty from the experience. I was delighted with him.

“The ground is lovely out there and he handled it well, and he picked up well again up the straight.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson