ODDS-on favourite Ciel De Neige took advantage of what looked an easy opportunity to win his second race over hurdles in the opening conditions event over an extended two miles at Sligo.

However, the 4/7 chance looked in trouble after a slight mistake at the second last left him in third spot rounding the final bend. Switched out by Mark Walsh, the J.P. McManus-owned six-year-old was much better over the last and ran on strongly to defeat the front-running I Am Connect by just under three lengths.