The market suggested that the CorkRacecourse.ie Maiden Hurdle concerned just two of the 17 runners and so it proved as Gentlemansgame made an impressive debut under rules.

The grey son of Gentlewave won a four-year-old maiden at Curraghmore in October for Donnchadh Doyle and was snapped up the following month for 250,000 pounds at Cheltenham.

Trained by Mouse Morris for Robcour, the 5/4 chance and Gjoumi (8/11 favourite) drew clear of the remainder well before halfway and had the race between them from a long way out.

Rachael Blackmore ’s mount pressed on from early in the straight and, after drawing clear of the odds-on favourite before the penultimate flight, galloped on strongly to score by all of 21 lengths. Mahons Glory kept on one paced to deny Gjoumi the runner-up spot.

Morris said, "He is a real chaser - he is a good, genuine type of horse who loves jumping and should have a nice future over fences. He wouldn't show you a whole lot at home.

"We'll now talk to Robcour (owner Brian Acheson) and see what they want to do."

(TW & AM)