Off You Go made light of a 16lb rise for winning at the Limerick Christmas meeting when taking the valuable Coral Hurdle on day one of the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown.

That hike put the Charles Byrnes-trained gelding in this 28-runner two miles handicap right on the basement mark of 9st10lb, and he stuck the front approaching the final flight.

Mark Enright ’s mount, backed on track from 9/1 into 6/1, kept on well under pressure on the run-in to beat Deal D’estruval by a length and a quarter. Grand Partner finished best of all another two and a half lengths back in third, with Makitorix in fourth.

Byrnes said, "The rise in the weights (after winning at Limerick) left him bang on and initially I didn't think he'd get into the race. He snuck in perfectly at the bottom and it worked out.

"I don't know what the plan is but I'll talk to Frank (Berry, McManus' racing manager) and see. He's still only a baby and I'd say he'll only have one or two more runs before the end of the season.

"He probably wouldn't even get into the Coral Cup at Cheltenham and while I doubt he'll go to Cheltenham, the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys Hurdle could still be a possibility.

"Mark (Enright) is very lucky for me and while I don't give him many rides, anything I put him up on wins most of the time.

"Dromlease Express won this race 14 years ago and that was a good day as well!"

J P McManus was enjoying his second winner on the day as his famous colours were also successful with 25/1 chance Tower Bridge in the opener.

(TW & AM)