Gordon Elliott's (having a good day up North too) His Excellency picked a great occasion to get off the mark over flights by landing the Grade 2 United Arab Emirates Embassy Juvenile Hurdle on his sixth attempt over timber.
Davy Russell 's mount is a well-documented 'rogue' but he found what was required on the run-in to get the better of One Cool Shabra (13/2) by half a length. Sam Bass unfortunately pulled up fatally injured before the fourth and the demise of the 13/8 favourite to a great extent marred this two miler.
His Excellency is a half-brother to Leg Spinner and he was bought at the Newmarket July Sales by Gigginstown House Stud for 65,000 guineas.
He was a progressive horse on the Flat for John Oxx, winning a ten furlong handicap here at Leopardstown during the summer.
Davy Russell (who was recording a quick double having scored aboard Midnight Game half an hour earlier) excelled on His Excellency to be 2nd to the aforementioned Sam Bass 22 days ago and the leading National Hunt rider of the current campaign can also take a bow for his efforts here.
John Cullen rider of One Cool Shabra was given a one day ban by the stewards for excessive use of the whip.
