Midnight Stroll a ready winner in Ballybrit

Midnight Stroll showed off his engine when delivering in the Tattersalls Ireland EBF Auction Maiden Hurdle at Galway.

He travelled powerfully into contention as he closed on Allardyce after the second last.

The five-year-old gelding was going much the better than his rival as they raced to the last and he moved into the lead in the final furlong of the run-in.

He was driven out by Phillip Enright to hold fast-finishing Cosmo's Moon by a length and three parts.

The winner was returned at 11/2 from 7/1 while the runner-up was 6/1.

Allardyce, the 3/1 favourite, could give no more in the closing stages and came in two lengths further back in third.

Trainer Robert Tyner said: "That was grand and he settled a bit better today as he was a little bit keen the last day at Gowran, when he was fresh and well in himself.

"He jumped adequate today and did it nicely. He's a nice horse and it was always the plan to go for a bumper but after Gowran I decided against a bumper as he was too buzzy and he wouldn't qualify for this race then.

"This race was worth 20,000 euro and was almost as good as winning a bumper and maiden hurdle.

"He can't get rated too high for winning that type of race."

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes