Sling scores on first start over flights

Castle Bar Sling sprang a 20/1 surprise in the Kilmore Maiden Hurdle scoring on his first start over hurdles for Thomond O’Mara, rider Phillip Enright (third winner of the week) and owner Bartholomew Murphy.

The nine-year-old son of Diesis started off his career in an Auction Maiden at Galway in 2007 and he went on to win five times on the level.

His biggest success came in the Cambridgeshire at the Curragh in 2011 but he failed to score on his next thirty-two starts and was last seen finishing tenth of sixteen behind Elusive Time at the Curragh on Sunday.

Sent off at 20/1 this afternoon he raced mainly in fourth and improved to challenge on the outer approaching the straight.

He was ridden along on the run to two out and he got to the front after the last, keeping on well from there to score by a length and a quarter. Alileo (evens favourite) had no answer once headed on the run-in and he had to settle for second under Paul Townend for Willie Mullins.

Phillip Enright said afterwards: “He wasn't a bad horse on the Flat. Thomond told me not to get in too much of a pocket down the hill as he likes coming wide, even on the Flat. In a small field it was easy to do.

"His jumping won it for him. He got two great jumps over the last two and stayed on well to the line."

Additional reporting by Gary Carson