Blue Cannon landed a touch in the hands of Conor Hoban when taking the Victoria Square Ulster Cesarewitch Handicap over a stamina-sapping two and a quarter miles at Down Royal.

Supported on track from 12/1 down to half those odds, the Noel Meade-trained dual-purpose gelding struck the front over a furlong out and kept on well to hold the late flourish of Action Master (7/1) by three quarters of a length.

The front-running Rawnaq (8/1) was the same distance back in third, while 5/1 favourite Deutschland completed the placings in fourth.

Meade said, “He was very light last year but he’s stronger now and has improved since his summer break. The plan is to go for the Lartigue Hurdle at Listowel although two miles might be a bit sharp for him.

“I didn’t think he was going to get into this race. He’s always shown plenty, he jumps well and won a maiden hurdle here as well.”

(Additional reporting by Michael Graham)