Exit Poll made the breakthrough over hurdles at the third time of asking when prominent throughout to beat 24 rivals in the Free Racecourse Wifi @ Fairyhouse Maiden Hurdle.

Trained by Jessica Harrington for Sean and Bernardine Mulryan, the six-year-old gelding won a bumper at the 2018 Leopardstown Christmas meeting and had shown some promise in two previous hurdle outings this season.

Mark Walsh sent the 9/2 chance to the front before halfway and was ridden to go two lengths clear before the final flight.

The evens favourite Jon Snow could make no headway into that margin on the run-in, while smart bumper mare Santa Rossa wandered about before the penultimate flight and could only keep on one paced from there to finish another length and three quarters back in third.

Harrington said, “He's been promising to do that. It's only his third run over hurdles and he'll come on a lot again from that.

“I'd say he'll probably end up going two-and-a-half miles. I'll talk to Sean and see where he wants to go with him.

“I'd say he'll be a better chaser. Mark said he's just a little bit awkward when he's in tight to a hurdle. When he's meeting it right or long he wings them. He's a very big horse and he's getting stronger all the time.”

(GC & AM)