Joseph O'Brien continued his blistering form with a four-timer on the opening day of the Winter Festival at Fairyhouse that paid 714/1. Desir Du Large (3/1) readily drew clear approaching the final furlong in the bumper and came home by five lengths in the hands of Tom Hamilton to put the seal on a terrific day for O'Brien.

The trainer said: “It turned into a messy race and the plan was to tuck in but he showed a nice turn of foot. I guess he’ll go jumping hurdles now and he seems to jump well.”

Valdieu (7/4f) was picked off by Desir Du Large in the final quarter of a mile and had no answers as he came in five lengths behind.

This was O'Brien's ninth winner in two days - he had two winners at Limerick yesterday afternoon and three in the evening fixture at Dundalk.

Additional reporting by Alan Magee