Progressive Ah Littleluck stays on dourly to see off market rival

On a night when the classy four-year-old Let’s Dance justified 1/12 favouritism in the opener, the Tom Gibney-trained Ah Littleluck captured the featured Brenda Anderson Memorial Cup Rated Novice Hurdle in Sligo last night.

Winner of his maiden in Cork last time, the 2/1 favourite, ridden by Mark Flanagan, stayed on dourly up the straight to beat chief market rival Lofgren by four lengths, prompting trainer Gibney to comment: “It was a big step-up from his maiden win in Cork, which looked ordinary. This looked a competitive little race and he won well.

“He’s been on the go a long time – we originally thought he was a winter horse – and I’m keen to give him a break. He was a first winner for his owner Kevin Haigney, a friend of mine, from Drogheda, when he won in Cork. So he’s having a great time of it. Mark (Flanagan) is riding very well – he’s based with Ger Keane but comes in to ride for us regularly.”