There was plenty of money around for Hillwalker this morning (9/1 to 5/1) and the early birds were rewarded in the juvenile maiden at Gowran Park.

Rory Cleary 's mount broke well and soon led. He came off the bridle entering the straight, though, and was pressed by Christmas

Newcomer Crockford made good headway on the outer to pick off the leader with less than a quarter of a mile to go.

It was a three-way battle between Hillwalker on the inside, Christmas in the middle and Crockford on the outside as they flashed past the furlong pole.

Crockford cracked first with 150 yards to race as Hillwalker resolutely regained a narrow lead from Christmas.

He stuck to his guns well to repel Christmas (4/1) by a neck. Crockford (7/2) was three lengths further back in third.

The winner drifted out to 9/1 from an opening show of 13/2 at the track.

Trainer Tom Cleary said: “We knew he had improved a lot from the Curragh, and Rory rode him during the week and confirmed that. He’s a very easy horse to train and we ran him in the Curragh the first day because he ran so well in a barrier trial at Dundalk.

“I’d say he’ll improve again from that. He takes his racing very well, doesn’t sweat up and travels well — you couldn’t have a nicer horse in the yard. Rory gave him a lovely ride.

“We’ll decide in the next few days where we go next but we can aim between the posts now!”

Hillwalker finished fourth on debut in the Curragh at 50/1 just over two weeks ago.

Additional reporting by Alan Magee