Elsannah followed up her last time out win at Naas when battling on bravely to just last home in the Mallow Commercials CVRT Test Centre Handicap Hurdle at Cork.

An easy winner at the County Kildare track last month, the Shane Crawley trained mare had to work much harder in order to land the spoils here.

Having tracked the leaders throughout, the six-year-old challenged early in the straight but a slightly untidy jump three out didn't aid her cause. However, jockey Ian Power gave her every opportunity to recover and she was soon back on the bridle.

From the second last it developed into a battle with eventual runner-up King Ferdinand and right to the line less than a head separated the pair. However, the mare just kept finding for Power and they held on by the tightest of margins.

Shane Crawley said: "Ian gave her a lovely ride and was confident on her with a lap to go. He had her exactly where he wanted her, she travelled everywhere and battled well up the straight so is learning her game all the time.

"We might have to put her away now due to drying ground as she is a real national hunt type - I won't be taking any chances with her."

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes