Cheltenham Festival bumper winner Ferny Hollow got his hurdling career off to a bright start when making a successful reappearance in the INH Stallion Owners EBF Maiden Hurdle at Gowran Park.

Trained by Willie Mullins for Cheveley Park Stud, the son of Westerner was opposed by another promising sort in course bumper winner Bob Olinger and the pair were supported to the exclusion of the remainder in this 15-runner two miles event.

The 1/3 favourite tracked his chief market rival throughout before Paul Townend sent him to the front approaching the final flight.

The odds-on shot kept on well on the run-in to score by a length, with the pair pulling all of 45 lengths clear of Kings Halo in third.

Mullins said, “It was a nice performance. Two good horses came up the straight there and hopefully we’ll hear more about both of them.

“He’ll improve from that run, and we’ll look forward to Christmas.”

Paddy Power reacted by cutting Ferny Hollow into 8/1 (from 10/1) for the Supreme Novices Hurdle and 10/1 (from 12/1) for the Ballymore at the Festival.