Three Card Brag made a successful transition to flights when winning the auction maiden hurdle in Galway.

He was last seen winning his bumper on debut on deep ground at Wexford in March and is now two from two.

He stalked Sandor Clegane before three out at which he made a mistake, however, he lost little momentum.

Davy Russell rode him into a narrow lead with a good jump two out and the five-year-old gelding was soon given the office to go and win his race.

He increased his lead on the run to the last and stayed on strongly inside the final furlong to draw six and a half lengths clear at 5/2 from the 15/8 favourite Sandor Clegane. Nucky Johnson took third at 11/4.

“He looked good, he jumped well apart from one,” said Gordon Elliott.

“I loved, from the last to the line, the way he put his head down and galloped. There is plenty of improvement in him.

“In fairness to Sean Doyle, he came well recommended. He has a very good association with the McNeills.

"He's a horse that doesn't show much at home but does it on the track.

“He might not be a horse for good ground but you'd like him, he has a great attitude. I thought it was a good performance because it wasn't a bad race.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson