Paul Gilligan, who has such a fantastic record at Sligo, again showed his prowess at Cleveragh as Berties Dream over-turned Glenstal Abbey in the Martin Reilly BMW Dealer Novice Hurdle.

After going no gallop, Andrew Lynch kicked on aboard Berties Dream embarking on the final circuit. However when awkward two out his number appeared to be up as Tony McCoy and Glenstal Abbey narrowly took it up. Despite Berties Dream missing the last as well, he proved the stronger on the run-in though, by a length and a half.

Lynch said: "We had only been hacking early so I kicked on and he kept going. He is tough and game." Meanwhile Gilligan credited Lynch for the win aboard the course and distance winner.