Eamonn O’Connell’s Father Mattie won at the 13th attempt at Sligo today when gaining his win in the opening Martin Reilly BMW Maiden Hurdle, scoring under the trainer’s son and capable 7lbs claimer Eoin O’Connell.

Today's fixture was Sligo's belated first of the year, due to problems with drainage works during the winter, and the opener went off without problem, with the winning son of Papal Bull eventually holding off the challenge of FIrst Class Ticket on the run-in.

Afterwards O’Connell stated “he has been running well without winning recently and is a better hurdler than flat horse. He stays galloping but the line came in time for him today and was just hanging on for a finish!

“He likes good ground and while I could be wrong, I always thought he wanted a bit further, so we’ll see. We’ll run him in the first race at Galway on the Monday next (four year olds novice hurdle) and will go back to the flat at some stage too.”

The winning a four-man TMO Syndicate is headed by owner/breeder Tom Molan.