Elishpour (hood) is pushed out by Danny Mullins in the closing stages© Photo Healy Racing
Despite proving very ease to back Elishpour got off the mark over flights as he took the opener at Sligo, the Easyfix Rubber Products Maiden Hurdle, under Danny Mullins for Tony Martin.
The four-year-old son of Oasis Dream started as short as 11/10 this morning opening on-course at 3/1 before going off a 7/2 chance wearing a first time hood.
Having his sixth start over hurdles this evening he raced mainly in mid-division, coming with his challenge on the outer at the last (usual two out).
He hit the front turning into the straight and went on from there to score easily by seven lengths for owner Barry Connell. If Not For You finished second at (6’s to 4’s on-course) under Mark Walsh for Eddie Harty while Island Villa (11/2) was a head back in third for jockey/trainer Denis Hogan. Rebel Laker (4/1 in the morning) went off the 9/4 favourite and he finished a further length and a half back in fourth under Shane Shortall for Pat Martin.
Tony Martin said afterwards: "I thought he’d improved a lot from the last day. He’d a couple of nice runs and that was a bit better today. It might not have been a great race but he’s done it nicely and can't do any more."
The winner is a half-brother to Edelmira who won the Group Three Give Thanks Stakes at Cork on Tuesday.
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
