Ilbdare one for McNiff in Sligo Ilbdare stormed past Sphagnum for a local success in the qualified riders' handicap hurdle at Sligo. Sphagnum travelled powerfully for James Sampson and came through to head Private Policy two out. He was the only horse in the field still on the bridle swinging for home and he was still a few lengths to the good once he cleared the last. The race was far from over, though, as Ilbdare and Billy Coonan stayed on into second over the last and steamed past Sphagnum who didn't find as much as was needed off the bridle in the closing stages. The winner won going away by a length and three-quarters at 10/1 over the 25/1 (from 40s) runner-up. Each-way backers drew a return from Je Suis (40/1) and Walking In Mayo (5/1) in third and fourth respectively. Mark McNiff said: "He likes it here, he won over the same distance at the May meeting last year, and was unlucky not to win here in October when he made a mistake at the last. "For a Flat-bred horse, he stays very well. "He had to come wide into the straight for the final time, but doesn't like being around horses anyway. There's no forcing him, you have to let him find his feet and wait on him to go. "He needs a bit of time between races, so he'll get a little break and probably come here next month or in August. Easy side of good is fine for him, but he wouldn't like it any slower." Additional reporting by Mark Nunan
