Listentillitellyea deservedly makes the breakthrough

Listentillitellyea (5/1) made the breakthrough on his 23rd start, as he comfortably accounted for his rivals in the angloprinters.ie Handicap Hurdle.

A five-time runner-up and beaten by just a nose over the course and distance last summer, the Tom Gibney-trained seven-year-old certainly wasn't winning out of turn.

After racing mainly in third behind clear leader Cozone the Darragh O'Keeffe ridden victor took closer order approaching two out and swept to the front before the final flight.

Owned by the Mayo Meath Men Partnership, the successful 102-rated gelding was ridden out on the run-in and came home 11-lengths to the good.

Returned at 11/2, Tomas O Maille filled the runner-up spot under Ambrose McCurtin, while Gekkota (11/1 from 33s) was a length back in third.

Sent to post the 18/5 favourite, Realism was a nose away in fourth, keeping on in the closing stages after racing towards rear.

"He has always been threatening to do that and I finished second on him five times. He had always met one too good but in fairness he is a good consistent horse," O'Keeffe commented.

"His last run in Sligo wasn't too bad as he had a hard run the week before it and that took its toll on him. He was fresh today and always promised to do something like that.

"We went a good gallop and a few of the summer types might have been caught out by the (softening) ground. He has the option of jumping a fence, as he jumps well."

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes