Cnoc Na Sioga took an incident-packed opening two mile maiden hurdle at Tramore when swooping late under Davy Condon.

Victory appeared unlikely as John Ryan’s charge, who made a serious mistake at the first, was a moderate fourth behind the front-running Knockeenonthedoor (5/1) approaching the second last.

However the Westerner gelding really got going up the hill and struck the front in the closing stages to score by a length and a quarter at odds of 4/1. Angles Hill (100/30) completed the placings a further four lengths back, while 11/8 favourite Silver Chief dug her heels in and didn’t want to know with Paul Townend’s mount pulled up after jumping the first. Cyranos Exhibition and Bonny Blackdoe fell independently at the second last when out of contention leaving just five finishers.

Ryan said, “Davy said he must be very good to win from where he came from. He was nearly brought down at the first, and was taken wide at another stage. He must be a machine!

“He could be a Galway Hurdle horse in time and did well to win. He’s Foildubh’s training partner, so I knew he was good. He’ll go for a winners-of-one next.”

(Additional reporting by Donal Murphy)