With a couple of absentees due to coughing, just three lined up for the Kepak Rated Novice Hurdle and it was the 11/10 favourite Ambitious Fellow who came home in front.

Winner of the valuable Red Mills Series Final at the Punchestown Festival in April, the Fame And Glory gelding was off the bridle and in rear at the bottom of the back straight on the final circuit. Jockey Simon Torrens, doubling up after Sole Pretender in the opener, didn't seem too perturbed though and his mount was back on terms three out before taking command at the next. He was ridden clear from that point and stayed on well to beat Plains Indian by three and a half lengths.

Winnig trainer Peter Fahey said: “He's a nice horse. His run in Punchestown was very good and we ran him back pretty quick in Wexford because these two races were slotting in.

“We'll keep him ticking over for Galway now and go for a nice handicap there, he has plenty of experience now. That'll be our main target with him.

“The horses are flying, we had a great season last year and it's continuing on this year so it's brilliant.

“He's a nice horse to look forward to. We can step him up in trip even more, when they got racing there after the fourth last we were caught for toe but he did it well at the death.

“The ground was probably as quick as he'd want it today but we had to run him to get the experience into him. We're looking forward to Galway now.”

Quotes from Gary Carson