Ah Littleluck completes hat-trick in style

The Tom Gibney trained Ah Littleluck completed his hat-trick in style, as he took the Old Weir Handicap Hurdle in convincing fashion.

An easy winner of his maiden hurdle at Cork early last month, he then followed up in novice company at Sligo.

Available at 4/1 this morning, the six-year-old son of Mahler opened on-course at 11/4 before going off the 3/1 favourite in the colours of owner Kevin Haigney.

Settled behind the leader in second, he improved to lead after three out. He went a few lengths clear on the approach to the next, and kept on well under pressure after that flight, going to score by ten lengths under seven pound claimer Mark Flanagan.

The front-running Your Busy (8/1) finished second under Katie Walsh for James Nash, while Nobody Home (14/1) was a further length and a quarter back in third under Phillip Enright for Eddie Cawley.

Tom Gibney said afterwards: "That was a lovely performance and it is lucky the owners weren't listening to me as I wanted to let him out a month ago!

"He is thriving in the sunshine and is eating, looking and doing well. That was only his second run in a handicap and I think he's a nice horse.

"He'll definitely have a breather now as he's on the go a long time."

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes