Captain Cody justified his short price with a facile victory on his jumping debut in the Connolly's Red Mills Irish EBF Ladies Auction Maiden Hurdle at Gowran Park.

The Willie Mullins-trained gelding, sixth in last season's Cheltenham bumper, went to post a 2/11 shot on his hurdling debut.

Jody Townend settled her mount behind the leaders and charted a wide course in the two-and-a-half miles contest.

The Arctic Cosmos gelding took closer order four from home and hit the front before the last.

The result never looked in doubt in the home-straight as he came home on the bridle to beat Backtonormal by 10 lengths.

Patrick Mullins said afterwards:- “He jumped a bit rusty at times but when it counted, over the last two, was very good.

"He seems to love this heavy ground, Jody will be delighted to get a win on him and it's onwards and upwards for him now."

Paddy Power cut the winner into 25/1 (from 50/1) for the Baring Bingham Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham.

(Quotes by Tom Weekes)