Allardyce is finally promoted to number 1 spot

Allardyce ended a frustrating sequence of placed efforts when taking the INH Stallion Owners EBF Maiden Hurdle at Limerick.

The Edward O’Grady-trained gelding was produced between horses to lead at the penultimate flight, and soon asserted under Phillip Enright.

The 9/2 chance made a slight mistake at the last but it made no difference as he stayed on well to beat the odds-on Last Minute Man by seven and a half lengths.

The always prominent Itsonlyrocknroll could find no extra and being headed two out, and finished a further six lengths back in third.

The winner was placed on his previous nine starts in bumpers and maiden hurdles.

O'Grady said, "The fact we were all born too soon is of no consequence I suppose but it was appropriate he won on student's day as he is leased by the Class Of '67 Racing Club who were all classmates of mine.

"Most are up around Dublin so there are not too many of them here today but they'll be delighted and they have a lease of him until the end of the month. He'll run in a handicap at Punchestown so they can have a nice day out.

"He jumped much better than he did at Clonmel and maybe he preferred those hurdles."

(TW & AM)