Cilaos Emery ran out a comfortable winner of the opener at Navan, the Irish Stallion Owners EBF Maiden Hurdle.

Successful on his debut in a bumper at the Punchestown Festival in April, the Willie Mullins trained bay was sent off the 5/4 second favourite (from 2's on-course) this afternoon.

Pressed by the 6/5 favourite (from 10/11 to on-course) Joey Sasa from two out, the winning son of Califet was pushed along from the last, and he went on to see off that rival by by six lengths.

Ruby Walsh was aboard the winner for owner Luke McMahon, while the runner-up was ridden by Sean Flanagan for Noel Meade.

The front two went eight and a half lengths clear of Arvico Bleu who finished third at 8/1 under Bryan Cooper for Henry De Bromhead.

Willie Mullins said afterwards: "I liked him at Punchestown in his bumper where I thought he was exceptional, and he showed that again today.

"He was against proven stayers and point-to-point horses, took them on from the front and was going away from them. He will go for a novice now and should improve away over the season."

Paddy Power go 25/1 about Cilaos Emery for the Supreme Novices Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

STEWARDS REPORTS

C.D. Maxwell, rider of Court Martialed trained by G.A. Kingston, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount made a respiratory noise from the third last hurdle.

D.P. Maher, rider of Castlehume trained by Gordon Elliott, reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that his mount did not handle the ground, blew up in the back straight and ran on in the straight.

R. Loughran, rider of Master Vega trained by Patrick Downey, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount was pulled up before the straight having made a respiratory noise when leaving the back straight.

K.M. Donoghue, rider of Monastic trained by Gordon Elliott, reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that his mount hung to the left on leaving the back straight, gave a blow after the last hurdle and tired in the closing stages.

Additional reporting by Alan Magee