The 2/7 favourite Top Bandit easily got off the mark in the Franco Hughes Bookmaker Flat Race.

Jamie Codd had him in a prominent position throughout and the Kayf Tara gelding, runner-up in three of his four bumper outings last term, went away in the final quarter mile to beat Mary Meehan by five lengths.

The winner cost E105,000 at the Goffs Land Rover Sale in 2019 and is a half-brother to six-time winner Spirit Of Shankly.

Winning trainer Gordon Elliott was completing a double after Hurricane Georgie in the beginners’ chase and said: "He's a grand horse and he will go jumping hurdles straightaway.

"We couldn't believe he hadn't won a bumper before now."

And on his double, he added: "I love coming here, they are good people. I have been coming here since I was 14 or 15 years of age. It's brilliant."

Quotes from Michael Graham