Itsalladream and Jack Gilligan win the opener© Photo Healy Racing
Some seven horses held chances at the penultimate flight in a big field maiden hurdle at Galway, but the leader Itsalladream fended them all off.
He raced prominently for Jack Gilligan and took over from Olympy De Cerisy four out. Portcammon and Apple's Of Bresil in the chasing pack, both made mistakes at the penultimate obstacle as Itsalladream attempted to kick on rounding the home bend.
He jumped the last well and indeed better than the closest pursuer Oh So Charming however, the latter responded to Liam McKenna's urgings and began to cut into the deficit on the run-in.
Itsalladream toughed it out best, though, and held Oh So Charming by half a length. The winner was backed in from 20/1 to 12/1 while the runner-up went off at 15/2 having been much bigger in morning trading.
Apple's Of Bresil, the 11/10 favourite, kept on again for third, beaten two lengths by the winner.
Paul Gilligan said: "Our eldest lad Liam found this horse from Wexford and he recommended us to buy him, as he had some okay point-to-point form.
"He isn't the easiest, is tricky and at the start he dropped Jack. Our lads do a great job with him at home, though, and Liam rides him out. He wears the hood as he gets too lit up and getting him from the parade ring to the start is the hard part.
"In the race he is grand, it was a super ride by Jack and hopefully he will progress now. We won't get too excited with today, it was great to win here and he is a fine big horse who is a right chaser in the making."
Itsalladream had finished third in maiden hurdles at Roscommon and Killarney last month.
Additional reporting by Tom Weekes
