Favourite backers off the mark with Ciel De Neige

Willie Mullins' Ciel De Neige overhauled I A Connect to land the opening extended two mile one hurdle in Sligo.

The six-year-old gelding, with an official rating of 140, was a warm order at 4/7 to account for his four rivals, however, he was less than fluent two out in his pursuit of I A Connect and soon came off the bridle.

He rounded the final bend in a pocket in third and was switched out by Mark Walsh to deliver his challenge at the final flight.

He landed in second and got to grips with I A Connect in the final furlong and went on in the final 100 yards to score by two and three quarter lengths from the 3/1 runner-up.

Walsh said: “He’s done it easy enough. There was a bit of traffic turning into the last but I got a gap going to the last and he quickened up well and did it well.

"I was always happy enough that I’d pick them up.”

This doubled Ciel De Neige's total over flights. He has been runner-up in Grade 3 and Grade B handicap hurdles in addition to a third place in the Grade 3 Boodles at the Cheltenham Festival in 2019.

Additional reporting by Mark Nunan