Skilled gets going late in Wexford opener

Skilled got going late to land the spoils in the opening maiden hurdle at Wexford this afternoon.

The Mastercraftsman gelding was sent off 9/4 favourite for the two mile contest and settled towards the rear in the early stages.

Davy Condon asked his mount to take closer order coming out of the back straight but mistakes at the third and second last flights put him under pressure.

Caridadi claimed front-runner Asknotwhat after the last but the pair were trumped in the closing stages as Gordon Elliott's charge found his feet.

Skilled prevailed in the closing stages of the long run-in to record a two-and-a-half length success.

The winner had shown promise on his Irish debut at Navan at the start of the month when keeping on into third behind the smart-looking Sam Red.

Condon said afterwards: "He is a lovely horse and he just about got away with the ground. He will prefer better ground.

"He is not a bad horse, he is still weak and I'd say when he fills out and gets the nicer ground he will be a good summer horse."

(Additional reporting by Donal Murphy)