Runners line-up for the feature, with Gorgeous Tom on the right© Photo Healy Racing
Gorgeous Tom justified market confidence as he completed a double for Henry De Bromhead in the feature at Wexford, the Dan & Breda Byrne Memorial Rated Novice Chase.
Successful at the Punchestown Festival in May, the classy hurdler disappointed when last seen in the Galway Hurdle.
Available at 9/4 in early shows, the Champs Elysees six-year-old eventually went off the clear favourite at 4/5, on what was his first start over regulation fences.
In a share of the lead early on under Darragh O'Keeffe, he gained an outright advantage from the third.
Briefly joined after the last (usual three out), the Envirogreen Housing Services Ltd-owned bay led again early in the straight and drew clear in the closing stages to win by three-lengths.
Returned the second choice of punters at 5/1, Monbeg Park who was prominent throughout, had to settle for second under Conor Stone-Walsh, while Jazzy Matty was another four-and-a-half lengths away in third.
Just six fences were jumped in this race, with the three in the straight omitted due to the low lying sun.
"I'm delighted with that, he jumped well, the little bit he had to jump, so that was nice to see. We hoped he would be better over a fence and he looked good," de Bromhead, who took the third with Chutzpal commented.
"He had good point-to-point experience and he jumped well at home. Darragh was brilliant on him and I'm delighted for the O'Connor family (of owners Envirogreen Housing Services Ltd).
"We won't rush into anything yet for him, there is plenty of options. We said we'd just get started today.
"There is a Grade 3 novice over 2m 2f at Punchestown in October that he could maybe go for, we'll see. We'll enjoy today first."
STEWARDS REPORT
Owing to low-lying sun, the Raceday Stewards granted permission for fences one, two and six to be omitted from this race.
