Johnny Moore made full use of a spare ride on Hes A Hardy Bloke as the Noel Meade-trained gelding finished strongly to land the Punchestown Maiden Hurdle.

Sean Flanagan stood himself down after feeling stiff and sore following a heavy fall at Tramore yesterday, and Moore deputised on the 100/30 chance. Envious Editor headed the 10/11 favourite Captain Kangaroo approaching the final flight where Hes A Hardy Bloke made a mistake when challenging.

However, the five-year-old son of Aizavoski soon recovered and kept on well to beat Envious Editor by four lengths.

Captain Kangaroo was a further five lengths back in third.

Meade said, “He’s a nice horse and hopefully will continue to improve. He jumps fences well, he won a point-to-point. He handled the ground ok.

“We had to hobday him after his first run when he pulled up in Leopardstown. He was beaten by a good horse in the north last time and we put a tongue tie on him today.

“We’ll try and find a rated novice for him. He did well to pick up on that ground after a mistake at the last.”