Carrigmartin may have had his position as favourite for the Martin Reilly BMW Dealer Novice Hurdle threatened this morning but those that kept faith with J P McManus' 2/1 market-leader were rewarded when he battled off Moon Dice by one and a quarter lengths at Sligo.

Eddie Harty's charge was in front three out under Mark Walsh and the King's Theatre gelding was having a good battle with Moon Dice when that fellow got the last slightly wrong, that mistake settling the issue in favour of Carrigmartin.

Frank Berry, representing the winning owner, said: "That was a nice performance. I thought they were queuing up to come from behind, but he jumped the last couple well. We were going to go chasing (his dam Donna's Princess won a hurdle and two chases) but we might go for another hurdle race now. He loved the ease in the ground."

Eddie Harty was in Leopardstown with a couple of runners.