Red Ball Of Fire got the measure of King Lenox over the final flight in the extended two mile one maiden hurdle at Sligo.

King Lenox gave it a good go off the front but was challenged at the last by 13/8 Red Ball Of Fire who quickly took over upon touching down. She forged on under Phillip Enright as King Lenox could give no more. Loved Out who clouted the second last when in contention, kept on to get up for second.

Red Ball Of Fire beat the 11/8 favourite by two and a half lengths. King Lenox (40/1) dropped another length back to third.

Local trainer Mark McNiff said: “She’s improving all the time. Phillip (Enright) got off her the first day in Tipperary (finished third) and said she’d improve 20lb for the experience and I’d say she did improve that amount when she went to Roscommon (runner-up).

“She improved again here and I thought she looked the winner all the way around.

“She’s a big strong mare who’ll stay a bit further. She might go to Galway for the four-year-old winners’ race and Phillip said he’d like to ride her on the Flat around Tramore so that’s another option.”

Additional reporting by Mark Nunan