Capital Force appeared to have found a good opportunity in the thurles.ie Maiden Hurdle and so it proved as the 4/9 favourite scored under Davy Russell.

The Henry de Bromhead-trained gelding had shown plenty of promise in three previous outings in maiden hurdles, and was well-backed here from 8/15.

The son of Kayf Tara looked set for a comfortable win when going about five lengths clear after the penultimate flight but the distress signals came out in full on the run-in.

In the end Russell’s mount held on by a fast diminishing head from chief market rival Sharps Choice (5/2), with the pair pulling 19 lengths clear of Rebel Ace in third.

De Bromhead said, "It was a bit disappointing the last day and he started to tie up a bit again today but I'm delighted he won.

"At Leopardstown it was on good ground and he'd have won six or eight lengths if the race was over two miles but I'll get him checked out just to make sure. I suppose it was tacky ground today, and I was worried about it coming here.

"My main thing now is to wait for better ground, and I'd imagine good ground is the key to him."

(TW & AM)