THE weather gods certainly didn’t smile on Sligo for their first meeting of the year and the rain was unrelenting but at least the ‘Peaky Blinders’ caps fulfilled a purpose other than as a fashion accessory at this enduringly popular ‘themed’ fixture.

Fozzy Stack’s team has been well forward in the early weeks of the season and 11/10 favourite Aussie Girl was another winner for him in the opening Tote Fantasy Fillies Maiden.

Drawn on the rail in stall one, the Peter Piller-owned chesnut was soon sent to the front by Mark Enright and kept on well when ridden from over a furlong out, going on to score by a length and a half from Yuzu.

“The draw was a big help,” Enright said. “I kicked her out of the gates, there was a big rush on early and I just wanted to get to the front and was able to dictate from there.

“I was able to kick off the bend and she put it to bed well. You need a stayer to win around here no matter what trip it is and she has a little bit of class, even though it wasn’t a great race.”

“I know she’s had nice runs on soft but I think she might be better on a bit better ground.”

Oliver winner

Andy Oliver rarely leaves Sligo without a winner and his 1/1 favourite Semblance Of Order comfortably accounted for four rivals in the Tote Download The App Median Auction Maiden, with the going description changed to soft to heavy after that second race.

Soon in second under Billy Lee, the J.P. Ledwidge-owned winner was pushed along to lead approaching the straight and stretched clear to beat Arniemac by three and a quarter lengths.

“It’s lucky for us at Sligo and they do a great job over here,” Oliver said.

“I’m glad to get that done because he has been knocking on the door. He obviously gets further so that gives us a few options.

“He’s had three quick runs so I’ll probably freshen him up now. He goes on this ground but he’s a lovely mover so we have no fear of better ground.”

Tellthemi’mhere lands the feature

TELLTHEMI’MHERE (7/2) made it two from two since switching to the yard of Ian Donoghue when comfortably landing the featured Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Handicap.

Successful at Bellewstown earlier in April, when providing Donoghue with his first success, the Belardo five-year-old made all under Jamie Powell to beat Marvelosa by three lengths in the colours of the trainer’s father, Michael.

“It was a great pot to win. We picked out this race after she won over a mile in Bellewstown,” Donoghue said.

“We knew she’d stay the mile and two furlongs because she’d gallop all day. She’ll probably end up going for a mares’ maiden hurdle back at Bellewstown in July and we’ll keep her in mind for Galway too.”

Whisky On The Hill justified 11/8 favouritism in the SP Or Better Guaranteed With Tote Handicap.

Owned by Mr A Zevenbergen, he was held up in rear by Ronan Whelan before coming through in the straight to beat Notturno by two and three quarter lengths.

“He was completely clueless at Cork where he flew home having been stone last turning in and I knew he would improve 10 or 12lb for that,” said winning trainer Ado McGuinness

“I think he’ll improve again and I think he’s going to make into a smashing juvenile hurdler before the year is out.”

Nostra Casa (16/1) overcame a lay-off of over two years to take the Tote Fantasy Who’s In Your Stable Apprentice Handicap on his debut for trainer Paul Flynn.

Previously in the care of Dermot Weld and Brian Cawley, the well-bred Dubawi gelding, owned by the No Leak Syndicate, came from mid-division under Robert Whearty to lead a furlong from home and accounted for current Weld inmate Grappa Nonino by four lengths.

“We weren’t sure because he’d been off such a long time but he’s done an awful lot of slow steady work. He had leg trouble in the past so probably enjoyed that ground,” Flynn said.

Conditions fine for Conversant

CONVERSANT got in as third reserve in the Tote Never Beaten By SP Handicap and made the most of his opportunity to score under Joey Sheridan.

Recording a sixth career success, the Denis Hogan-trained grey was sent off an 11/1 chance in the colours of the Choi Fook Racing Syndicate.

Prominent throughout, he led inside the final furlong and held the late effort of Catherine Croi by half a length.

“I was absolutely delighted when I seen the heavens open because that’s the ground he wants,” said Sheridan.

“We were drawn wide but Denis said to jump and be as forward as you can. He got a nice lead, picked up well and stuck at it. That ground is the main thing for him.

“He’s been a brilliant servant to me, that’s my fourth win on him.”

Picked up well

Little Keilee (7/1) came from an unpromising position but ultimately won going away in the Follow @thetote.com Handicap. The Ciaran Murphy-trained filly, owned by the Peateawhy Syndicate, raced towards the rear but picked up well from early in the straight to beat well-backed favourite Rathbranchurch by a length and three quarters.

Winning rider Dylan Browne McMonagle said: “I had a bad draw and didn’t know if she was going to handle the ground so I just wheeled her in and took my time. They went very hard and it just fell in my lap. I stayed wide the whole way because it’s getting fairly chopped up down the inside. It worked and she was a good winner.”