The standard of the opening August Racing Festival 11th - 15th Maiden Hurdle was perfectly illustrated by the winner's official rating of 93, but Sparkalark has been pretty consistent in his previous fourteen efforts - 'between the flags' and on the racecourse proper - and he landed the spoils under Sean Flanagan.

Flanagan was aboard the Lar Halley-owned Flemensfirth gelding for the first time, and he turned what looked like certain defeat into victory on the 7/1 shot.

Trained locally by Halley's son, Vincent, Sparkalark seemed well held back in the pack two out, but he came with his run after, Fritz Grasland (had looked likely to score) from before the last.

Sparkalark got up close home to beat that 50/1 shot by half a length.

Odds-on favourite Crown Hill had no more to give, from between the last two, after being up there throughout. He finished fourth. Willie The Warrior was held when giving Ger Fox a horrible tumble at the last.

"Vincent is gone to the sales with a couple of horses. He told me to take a lead. I was actually flat out all the way, and he only got going coming towards the second last when he met the rising ground," reported Flanagan, on the mark here yesterday with 16/1 shot Cabarete.

He added: "He picked up then and stayed going away. It's beautiful ground."

The Turf Club Veterinary Officer reported to the Stewards that Mannin Lake trained by Patrick J.Flynn was noted to have burst a blood vessel post race.

(DM & EM)