Shane Hassett has deservedly earned plenty of praise from Adrian Maguire in the past and the Tipperary pilot was again seen to good effect when getting Karaking home by the minimum margin to justify favouritism in the Sliabh Coilte Maiden Hurdle.

Second on his last two outings, Karaking made all here but from before two out he was under strong pressure to maintain his lead from Babblon Brooke (pecked slightly there). However the King's Theatre gelding gamely found enough on the run-in to repel the runner-up.

Maguire said: "He'll probably go for a winners race now over two and a half miles plus. He hasn't told me he wants a break yet. Fast ground is his thing. It is great that he has won as he has been hitting the crossbar, which is hard for the owners (Limtip Syndicate). They are a group of eight from Limerick and Tipperary."