Kilcarry Bridge successful between the flags at Bennettsbridge earlier this year, opened his account under rules when making every post a winning one in the 2m2f maiden hurdle at Sligo.

Well-supported on track from 6/1 into 9/2, the six-year-old gelding had his rivals well stretched two out and stayed on strongly in the straight for Rob Jones to beat Hospital (11/4) by four and a half lengths.

The 7/4 favourite Guiding George could find no extra in the straight and was all of 11 lengths further adrift in third.

Winning trainer John Ryan said, “I’m mad about this fella, he’s a smashing horse and we’ll probably keep him going for a while.

“Summer soft is probably his ground so it may have been a bit too soft for him today. He does need to go much further though.”