Carlito impresses at Leopardstown

Gordon Elliott appears to have a new star on his hands as Carlito Brigante slammed Alaivan in the Inforthenight.ie Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown.

A winner at Musselburgh on his previous start when trained by Clare Macmahon, Michael O'Leary's Gigginstown House Stud paid £40,000 in the interim and that looks money well spent.

Davy Russell was content to sit out the back in the early stages on the 20-1 chance as Edward O'Grady's odds-on favourite set a strong pace up front with Cross Appeal

Winning trainer Elliott said: "I'm surprised he was that price. He won nice maiden at Musselburgh very well, and Jason Maguire, who rode him that day, recommended the horse to us.

"He's done a few bits of work on nice ground and he's a nice horse, although if he'd finished second or third we'd have been delighted. He's a nice horse and he'll jump a fence too. It's great for Gigginstown Stud."

"We'll have a look at something like the Triumph but he has to have good ground wherever he goes.

"There's a Triumph Hurdle trial back in Musselburgh, he might go there to get some experience but that would be it - he needs good ground."