Imagine was one of a few notable chasing recruits in Fairyhouse's opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase today and while he wasn't the only one to show promise, secured victory with an all-the-way win.

Ridden by Jack Kennedy, the 9/4 favourite made all jumping well and held off J.P. McManus' faster-finishing eye-catcher Inothewayurthinkin on the run-in.

Connections of the runner-up will hope some day to join him, but Imagine also proved too strong for Cheltenham's Albert Bartlett Hurdle-third Sandor Clegane (11/4) which made his chase debut over an inadequate distance, finishing fourth.

Imagine's trainer Gordon Elliott reported “it was a good performance, I was happy with him. I thought there would be plenty of improvement in him. Jack said he had a good blow going to the second last, he jumped well and he's not a bad horse. He looks like he could better over fences.

“We might look at something like the Craddockstown at Punchestown for him. He ran to a good level last year, he can go up a bit in trip and I'd say there is improvement in him.”

Quotes from Gary Carson