Master Of Verse leads Carrig Cathal over the last© Photo Healy Racing
The Gordon Elliott trained Carrig Cathal made it two from two over flights, as he took the Win A Meerkat Toy Hurdle.
Successful on debut for Robert Widger in a point-to-point at Corbeagh House last November, the son of Fair Mix was then purchased by Elliott for 40,000 pounds at Tattersalls in December.
Second and third in bumpers, the Tom Doran owned five-year-old made a winning debut over flights at Ballinrobe, and he was sent off the 15/8 second favourite to follow-up today.
Settled in third by Jack Kennedy, he was briefly pushed along after two out, and soon found himself caught in a pocket behind the leading pair.
He got the gap he needed before the last, and he was ridden after that flight, getting to the front inside the final 100 yards before going on to score by a length. Master Of Verse who was sent off the 6/4 favourite, couldn't hold off the winner on the run-in, and he had to settle for second under Bryan Cooper for Willie Mullins.
Gordon Elliott said afterwards: "The further he goes the better he'll be. He might go to Galway for a novice hurdle but I wanted to come here to get a bit of experience.
"He just hadn't enough experience the last day. He'll win plenty of races."
Additional reporting by Michael Graham
