King Blue belatedly opened his account at the age of nine when readily landing the Fegentri World Championship (QR) Handicap Hurdle at Cork for the husband and wife team of Ross O'Sullivan and Katie Walsh.

The King Charlemagne gelding disappointed connections at Thurles last month but bounced back to form here with an impressive victory.

The 8/1 chance was brought wide to challenge entering the straight and put the 2m4f event to bed when stretching clear before the final flight.

He came home a facile eight lengths ahead of top-weight Dactik with Miss Peacetime another four lengths away in third and the heavily-backed 2/1 favourite Colms Dream completed the placings in fourth.

O'Sullivan said, "He did today what I thought he'd do at Thurles in a Ladies Race the last day.

"He had worked unbelievably well at Punchestown a few days before that run but was then beaten after a furlong when he did run at Thurles. The piece of work must have left him flat as a pancake and took the edge off him.

"I left him freshen up coming here and he did what was expected at Thurles! He might go to Fairyhouse next.

"He is owned by Tommy Ward, a metal merchant from Mountmellick, who also owns Cliff House with John Joe Walsh and by Dermot Meagher, who is at sea today in his job as a Captain with Stena Ferries."

(TW & AM)