Minella Crooner makes plenty of noise on track debut

Minella Crooner looked a useful recruit to the track after obliging on debut in the bumper at Sligo.

The 8/13 favourite travelled smoothly in the lead under a motionless Jamie Codd out of the back straight and was asked to go and win his race a furlong and a half out. State Of Honor (5/2) attempted to make a race of it but could make no impression in the final furlong and had to settle for second, some three and a half lengths behind. She was a couple of lengths in front of 40/1 shot Gaelic Arc

Assistant trainer Ian Amond said: "He's a straightforward horse so Jamie just bounced him out up there and let him tip along. They weren't going a great gallop so he said he'd let him stride on turning down the back.

"He picked up well when he went for him and he was strong through the line.

"He might go for another bumper but he'll probably be a better horse over hurdles so we'll see what Gordon does.

"It's nice for the owner (David Barnard). He's an Englishman and this is his first winner in Ireland. He's after getting into a few horses in our yard."

Minella Crooner won his point-to-point at Cork in April for John Nallen before switching to Gordon Elliott.

Additional reporting by Mark Nunan