Verbal Sparring shed his maiden tag at the 20th attempt with a fitting first win at Sligo today, landing the Lake Isle Of Innisfree Handicap Hurdle (Div I) following some help from retired local training legend Billy Boyers.

Bred and initially raced by Jim Bolger, the five-year-old had failed in 13 previous hurdle outings but today, under 7lb claimer Carl Millar, improved one placing on an April runner-up effort, when scoring in a bunch-finish from Boston Bobby

Winning trainer Dessie McDonogh later revealed "I'm great pals with Billy Boyers (92) who's here today and he blessed the saddle for me before the race!"

He added "Carl gave him a very polished ride and got some lovely jumps out of him which had maybe cost him a couple of races at Naas. The only worry was that the ground had dried so much because he's definitely a better horse on soft or even heavy ground, but there was enough of an ease for him.

“He deserved to get his head in front and I'm delighted for (owners) Phil Dillon and his wife Bridget.”

Retired Boyers, Sligo's best known trainer, was prominent in the 1970s and '80s when he won a Galway Plate and the 1977 County Hurdle at Cheltenham, having trained on the beach at nearby Rosses Point.

Quotes from Mark Nunan