The opening O2 Maiden Hurdle at Down Royal today went to in-form pair of trainer Bernard Heffernan and jockey Andrew McNamara who combined with Landero

The 9/4 second favourite moved to the front from two out and stayed on well from the last to see off the challenge of Dr Moloney by three lengths.

Afterwards restricted license holder Heffernan, who has now trained a winner in each of the last three months, stated “Landero is a real stuffy horse but he has come on leaps and bounds from his Cork run.

“We fancied him last time at Cork and while the blinkers woke him up, we left them off today because he felt good at home. I had this race picked out for him for a while and we might go for a winners' of one with him now.

“I've eight horses 'in' at the moment and they're all summer horses which are all ready to run. I have an interview this week for my full trainers' license.