Carberry wins opener at Listowel

The first race this afternoon The O'Callaghan Family Hotels 3-Y-O Hurdle was won by Noel Meade's charge El Fontan with Paul Carberry in the saddle.

Carberry raced his mount in rear and made progress from 5 out and improved to challenge approaching two out. Carberry battled it out with the other grey in the race Hampstead Heath trained by Dave Marnane but Meade's grey gelding stayed on well to win by 2 lengths.

Meade said afterwards, "We bought him in France earlier in the year and then gelded him and left him off so he has had an easy time of it. Paul said they went a bit quick on the ground and he didn't jump as well as he did in Killarney but that was probably down to the heavy ground. There is not really a whole lot for him between now and November but at least we know he goes on the heavy ground."