Sublime Talent showed his Flat speed to great affect when storming through late under Paul Carberry to take the opening Connacht Telegraph Maiden Hurdle. Dabeina set the pace and had built up a sizeable advantage by halfway. However she was reeled in by the field after two out, and 7/4 joint favourite Laganbank looked set to score when taking it up before the final bend with Ruby Walsh oozing confidence.

Sublime Talent, the other 7/4 market leader, didn't enjoy the cleaarest of runs before the straight and appeared to have a near impossible task before the last.

However the Dermot Weld-trained Sadler's Wells gelding quickened up impressively on the run-in, and ultimately had a cosy length and a half to spare.

“He hit a bit of a flat spot but Dermot told me if he got a lead over the last he'd have the gears,” said Carberry afterwards.

The leading pair pulled nine lengths clear of Groody Hill (10/1) in third. Fairwood Massini was battling it out for the minor placings when falling at the last.

Alan Magee