Arion Soldier (14/1) was a facile winner of the Hibernian Hotel Mallow Maiden Hurdle under Ricky Doyle.

Owned and bred by Valerie Courtney and trained in Killarney by her husband Eamon, the Soldier Hollow gelding was stepping up in trip by fully a mile having been third at Thurles last month.

Having tracked the leaders, he swept to the front after the second-last and quickly settled matters, being eased in the closing stages to defeat Driscolls Hill by 15 lengths. 

"We are delighted with him and he had been working well at home," said the winning trainer.

"He was coming from two to three miles but we thought it would be his trip. He finished well the last day, he is a big horse and chasing is his future.

"We were hopeful today, he has a nice turn of foot and while he is six, hadn't a lot done. He is homebred, we'll see how he comes out of this and won't rush him - he is worth minding."

Quotes from Tom Weekes