Excelcius rewarded support at fancy prices when taking the featured Dawn Milk Run Handicap Hurdle on day four of the Killarney July meeting.

Available as big as 50/1 overnight, the Tom Mullins-trained gelding was sent off at 14/1 for this 2m1f event and showed a smart turn of foot approaching the last to put the race to bed.

Sean O’Keeffe’s mount jumped to the front at the penultimate flight and drew clear on the run-in to beat Bythesametoken by eight and a half lengths. Elegant Lass was just a head further back in third.

O’Keeffe said, “He was quite keen through the race but they went a nice gallop and he jumped really well. He was brave at the second last.

“He’s progressing and is starting to learn his job over hurdles. He showed a bit of Flat pace.

“Tom has done a good job with him and he’s a nice horse to look forward to.”

Excelcius won a Dundalk maiden for Ger Lyons as a two-year-old but had failed to add to that tally in 21 runs under both codes since.