“I was never really going and I was getting bumped and battered everywhere I was going,” said Conor Maxwell after winning on favourite Opposites Attract (9/4) in the Molson Coors Rated Novice Hurdle at Down Royal.

“I was winging hurdles. It was keeping me on the heels of them,” further reflected Maxwell after his mount got there on the line to touch off Momus by a nose.

Opposites Attract was following up on a course win from St Stephen’s Day and on this occasion he was held up towards the rear, making a slight mistake four out.

Ridden in eighth before three out, Dermot McLoughlin’s Gold Well gelding stayed on into third before two out.

Second before the last, Opposites Attract challenged on the run-in, disputing in the last strides before just prevailing at the line.

"He got knocked into at halfway and unbalanced and he (Conor Maxwell) took time to get him going again. He liked the way he toughed it out though," said McLoughlin.

"He said for a horse who wasn't enjoying himself and things weren't going right for he toughed it out well. He said they went a good gallop and it rode a good race. Onwards and upwards.

"I did say myself he would appreciate a bit of nicer ground when he won here on St Stephen's Day. He'll get further.

"I just thought at the back of the last he will stay at it and stay at it. He's tough, the more you dig into him the more he finds for you.

"He's in a few races at Cheltenham and the lads (owners, Slattery Bloodstock Limited) would love to go - we'll see how he comes out of this and we will assess it then sure. We might step him up in trip to three miles."

The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer examined Carrigmoorna Pine trained by Robert Tyner, at the request of the Stewards and reported the animal to be sore behind post race.

J.P. O'Sullivan, rider of Without Limites (FR) trained by Miss Elizabeth Doyle, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount was pulled up having stopped quickly.

(MG & EM)