Ryan forges new alliance with Hogan

Al Sakb saw off the closers in the Mayo News Maiden Hurdle at Ballinrobe to win for Denis Hogan and Trevor Ryan.

The six-year-old gelding picked up the lead at the fourth last and looked a sitting duck coming to the final flight as The Abbey loomed large on his outer.

He got away from the last well, though, as The Abbey fiddled it and came under pressure.

The Abbey was no longer the main danger as Dunbar came home well in the final furlong, but his effort petered out in the closing stages as Al Sakb kept on well.

The 9/1 winner took the honours by two and three quarter lengths and was backed in from 14/1.

Runner-up Dunbar went off at 2/1 while the 4/7 favourite The Abbey finished out of the places in third.

Trevor Ryan said: "That's my first winner since Christmas and it's been slow but some of my mounts have been winter-type horses on good ground.

"I've been riding out a bit for Denis and that's my first winner for the yard."

Onlyhuman was a notable non runner on what would have been his hurdling debut.

Additional reporting by Eamonn Murphy