Gibney gains compensation with Ah Littleluck

Tom Gibney left Fairyhouse yesterday feeling like he’d hit the crossbar with Global Fert, caught close home in the novice handicap hurdle, but the Trim trainer certainly hit the back of the net 24 hours later with Ah Littleluck in the Fairyhouse Steel Handicap Hurdle.

The 2m6f event proved a grueling test on the rain-soaked heavy ground with just six of the 20 runners completing the course but Andrew Lynch’s mount made light of the conditions from the front.

Lynch’s almost clean pale pink colours were a contrast to his mud-splattered rivals behind, and his only anxious moment came when meeting the second last all wrong.

However the eight-year-old gelding stayed on strongly from that point to become the second 25/1 winner in the opening three races on the card.

Without a win since completing a hat-trick back in the summer of 2016, Ah Littleluck had five and a half lengths to spare over Miles To Memphis at the line.

Twiss’s Hill was all of 24 lengths further back in third, with Peace N’ Milan completing the places in a distant fourth.

Tom Gibney, “It’s nice to get it after yesterday when I thought we were home and hosed and get mugged. The horses are in good form at the moment.

“He was unlucky in the good novice race here last year when he fell at the last so I’m delighted for him and his owner (Kevin Haigney) who is a good friend of mine.

“He’s been knocking on the door in some good races and it’s good to get the win.”