James Barcoe recorded his first winner in the training ranks as Allez Vic (a half-brother to the brilliant timber topper Dato Star) justified favouritism by taking the Happy Christmas Handicap Hurdle.

The Gowran based handler, who has ridden winners in the past, has tasted plenty of success as an owner over the last few years, with horses such as Sky To Sea, Allez Vite, and more recently Rathvawn Belle, carrying his colours to victory.

Having gone close on a couple of occasions over the last few months, Allez Vic, who is a seven-year-old son of Old Vic, was well fancied to get his head in front today, and he was backed from 10/3 to 5/2 favourite on-course.

Ridden by Brian Hayes, the bay gelding chased the leaders for most of the contest, and made progress into fourth at the fourth last flight.

He hit the front after the third last, and he kept on well from there to score by four and a half lengths, with a loose horse keeping his mind on the job on the run-in. Redclue who was hampered by the loose horse after the last, finished back in second at 8/1 under Andrew Lynch for Clare Cannon, while Pairc Na Leasa was a further five and a half lengths back in third under Martin Ferris for David Finn at 7/1.

Brian Hayes said afterwards: "He had a ball fall at Navan (on his last start), and I was unlucky on him in Clonmel, but he was the pick of them here on form.

"He wasn’t great at the last two, he was a bit guessy, but the loose horse helped him. James does a great job keeping him fresh."

Unfortunately Nell's Nan who fell two out was reported to be a fatality.

J.P. Byrne, rider of Afram Blue (GB) trained by Miss Maura McGuinness, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount never travelled.

Additional reporting by Michael Graham