First opens account in style First Ascent powered clear in the closing stages to run out a wide-margin winner of the opening Racing TV Maiden Hurdle at Kilbeggan this afternoon. Danny Gilligan was to the fore throughout on the Gordon Elliott-trained gelding and he had his rivals hard at work on the long run to the final flight. The Blue Point gelding was clear over the last and kept on well under ‘hands and heels’ to record a 14-length success over 125/1 shot Blue Johnl. The 11/2 winner was having his sixth run over timber and had been third over course and distance 13 days ago. “"He won well, cheekpieces helped him today,” said Elliott. “It was good to get a winner in those colours. My first ever winner as a trainer was in those colours, Arresting, many moons ago. “It was in Perth in 2006. Martin and Alan Egan are with me a long time, so it's brilliant." (Quotes by John O’Riordan)
