Colonel Mustard and Conor Orr (far side) © Photo Healy Racing
The 5/6 favourite Colonel Mustard duly obliged in the Corrib Oil Maiden Hurdle in the hands of Conor Orr.
There were one or two anxious moments for odds-on backers when the market leader was slightly hampered by a loose horse at halfway and also when 40/1 outsider Champagne Vacation threw down a strong challenge in the straight, but Orr just had to shake up his mount on the run-in and he went away to beat that rival by five lengths.
Market rival Harry Alonso (15/8) was another six and a half lengths away in third.
The winner, rated 136, had been runner-up in a Grade 1 novice hurdle at Punchestown in April.
Winning trainer Lorna Fowler said: "We knew before the race we'd have to make the running and I wasn't really worried about that but it is a relief more than anything.
"There was so much expectation riding on him to nail the maiden and get it done and he has. It will give him huge confidence and I think we now have a good bar from what he did last season.
"I hope we have a lot to look forward to now and I'd like to take him to Cheltenham in three weeks for the Supreme Novices Trial because I think it'll be good to get there and see how he travels.
"He is in a really good place, I have a bit to work on with him as I didn't have him 100%, because it is a long season. I am very relieved he won today."
Quotes from Thomas Weekes
