Elliott and Russell team up to land opener

Former Flat winner Flat To The Max (8/1) got off the mark over jumps when toughing it out in the first division of the three-year-old maiden hurdle.

Davy Russell dictated the pace throughout but his mount came under pressure and was headed by Union Gap at the second-last.

However, Union Gap (7/1) fiddled the last and Flat To The Max found plenty on the run-in to draw two and a half lengths clear at the winning post. Power Sail was seven lengths further back in third at 14/1.

Gordon Elliott said: “I thought he’d have won two runs ago (unseated rider at the first in Ballinrobe). He still jumped a bit careful but Davy gave him a very good ride.

“The one thing you would like about him was that he looked beaten and picked up again. He has an engine there somewhere.”

Davy Russell said: "It's not that he is a rogue or anything [regarding the blinkers], he lacks concentration and that's what happened him in his first two runs (over hurdles).

"I suppose he had the advantage of those two spins on the racecourse and it stood to him today.

"He was having a good look in front but he just seems to be happier there.

"Once he got into a battle he toughened it out well."

Additional reporting by Alan Magee