Farouk D’alene readily opened his account over flights in the opening maiden hurdle at Down Royal.

He came here with a point-to-point and two bumpers in his locker which saw him sent off a very warm 2/9 favourite.

The five-year-old Gigginstown gelding soon led but Jack Kennedy was then happy to take a lead from Sam Lorenzo before the fifth.

The pair eased to the front after five out and asserted from their eight rivals before the penultimate flight.

He wasn’t extended in coasting home by eight lengths from Pat’s Pick (13/2). He was six and a half lengths clear of Legacy Thor at 9/2.

Gordon Elliott said: “Yes it was (a lovely round of jumping) and he’s a big chaser, that’s what he has been bought to be.

“I think he’s that type of horse (Ballymore), a staying horse.

“You could hear him just have a blow after the last. He has never shown anything at home but when you go to the track he is better, he’s a perfect staying horse.

“I’d say he couldn’t have it soft enough.”

Paddy Power cut Farouk D’alene from 25/1 to 20/1 for the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle and from 25/1 to 20/1 for the Ballymore.