Expensive Pires Off Mark over Flights

Pires a 300,000 guineas purchase out of the Mick Channon yard at Doncaster in 2007 got off the mark for the Tony Martin team on his ninth effort since joining the Meath trainer in the Londis Close To You Novice Hurdle.

Davy Russell rode the well-backed 5/4 favourite and he got the better of Hintsnallegations on the run-in to prevail by three parts of a length with easy to back second market choice Dual Gales staying on for third a neck further adrift.

Martin said: "He is a very speedy horse and he jumped well there. He might go back on the flat for a mile two race."

Pires has an entry in the Guinness Galway Handicap Hurdle and William Hill cut him in the betting for that race now going 14s from 20/1.