Etincelle Lioterie clear over the last© Photo Healy Racing
A drop back in trip to two and a quarter miles, and first-time cheekpieces, worked the oracle for 5/2 favourite Etincelle Lioterie in the opening mares' maiden hurdle at Downpatrick.
Joseph O'Brien 's six-year-old was always in the front rank and asserted before the last to come in by a healthy eight lengths. Rock Me Robin took second at 14/1, a length in front of Coosan Clover (4/1).
Jockey JJ Slevin said: "We had cheekpieces on and that might have helped. She travelled well and jumped much sharper, the few runs have crowned her and she was good today.
"She was very, very slick attacking into her hurdles and showed a good attitude.
"She has done it very easy the whole way and she had stayed well enough over trips in the past, so I was anxious to make plenty of use of her.
"I think she could go back up in trip, I think she could be versatile enough."
