Prairie Dancer easily wins Cork opener

Prairie Dancer put his previous experience to good use to run out an emphatic winner of the opening Dermot Casey Tree Care Maiden Hurdle at Cork.

Jockey JJ Slevin soon had the Joseph O'Brien trained juvenile in front and he was never headed after that. Jumping and travelling easily in first-time cheekpieces, the son of Territories looked to face a challenge going down to the penultimate flight but a good jump soon settled the issue and he quickened up impressively.

Prince of Verona stayed on to take second, while hurdling debutant, Wee Willie Nail caught the eye back in third. Both horses look sure to improve from the race.

Brendan Powell said; "he deserved to win on ratings and ran well at Cheltenham. JJ (Slevin) said he had a look at the stables on the bend but said he jumped lovely apart from getting in close to one.

"He quickened up well and did it nicely and had to in that company.

"Looking in the paddock there were a lot of 'future horses' but he had the experience off the flat and it was a nice race to find. He'll probably mix it during the summer and he is owned by a great bunch of guys who went to Cheltenham with him for the week."