Gibberwell stays on best under Slevin

Second over half a mile further on his hurdling debut last month at Punchestown, Gibberwell (16/5) went one better in the Hook Head Maiden Hurdle.

He mastered the front-running, and eventual third, Hardwired (9/1) before the last and kept on well to hold the 4/9 favourite Mr Jackman who stayed on but had been labouring from some way out.

A length and three quarters was the winning margin for the scopey son of Getaway, who’s trained locally in Duncormick by Brian Jordan.

Winning rider JJ Slevin said: “ He had a good run in a maiden the last day and his bumper runs were decent. He has improved away and is a grand horse.

"Obviously, we thought the favourite would be hard to beat, he had a very good run the last day and we were very worried about him.

"We just planned to ride our own race and see what happened and thankfully it worked out."

Additional reporting by Donal Murphy