Cawley & Gilligan off the mark with Nellie

Nellie Pledge provided trainer Brian Cawley, and rider Liam Gilligan with their first track wins, as she took the Adare Manor Opportunity Maiden Hurdle

Towards rear early on, the 8/1 chance soon improved into mid-division, and made further progress into second after three out.

She jumped the next in a share of the lead with the 6/5 favourite Successor hitting the front before the last, going on to score comfortably by six lengths.

The aforementioned market leader had to settle for second under JJ Slevin for Joseph O'Brien, while Ri An Rian (6/1) was five lengths back in third for Adam Short and Liz Doyle.

Gilligan, who is a son of Cheltenham Festival winning trainer Paul, said afterwards: "I started in the pony racing and that's my seventh ride on the track.

"I'm sixteen and it's my first winner. I'm working with Brian Cawley and it's his first winner on the track as well."

Cawley himself enjoyed plenty of success in the saddle, and trains in Craughwell, Co Galway.

STEWARDS REPORTS

B. Browne, rider of Baltimore Buzz trained by Noel C. Kelly, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount never travelled during this race and was pulled up.

S.A. Shortall, rider of Tommy Welsh trained by Joseph Patrick O'Brien, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount was slowly away and eventually pulled up after the third last hurdle having gone lame in running.

Additional reporting by Eamonn Murphy