Glyde Ranger off the mark in some style

Glyde Ranger (16/1) put in a power-packed performance to get off the mark at the 14th time of asking in the extended 1m5f handicap at Sligo.

James Ryan had to put up his declared possible overweight of 2lb on this three-year-old gelding, but it made no difference at all to the outcome.

He was another horse to deliver his challenge on the outer and made eye-catching progress between the '3' and the '2' poles.

Ryan sent him on approaching the home bend and his mount fairly shot clear of the field to put the race away with a furlong to go.

The son of Belardo ran on strongly to hit the line four-and-a-quarter-lengths clear of Contrapposto (10/1). Deluca Chop (16/1) was another three-quarters of a length back in third.

Tom McCourt said: "He'd been running very consistently this year, the only middling run he had was at Roscommon when things just didn't go right for him.

"The rest of his runs have been solid and I think the step up in trip on the soft ground was a big plus. He's from an Aga Khan family and it's all stamina all the way back.

"James said he really picked up when he hit the rising ground and ended up getting there too soon. They probably had gone plenty quick and the race fell apart to some extent, but he has loads of ability.

"He's done plenty of schooling and jumps quick. He'll probably go for another Flat race but I'd like to get him going over hurdles before the good ones come out."

"One of the owners, David Daly, is a member of Glyde Rangers GAA Club in Tallanstown Co Louth and hopefully some of the other lads in the club had a few quid on. I know David certainly did and he's delighted."

Additional reporting by Mark Nunan