Lakefield Flyer justified favouritism in style when easily landing the Remembering Caughoo Beginners Chase for Shark Hanlon and Jody McGarvey at Downpatrick.

The five-year-old gelding was making his first start over fences here but had previous experience in point-to-points. Making most, the McGarvey ridden winner was briefly challenged by eventual second Ask the Leader before the second last but soon saw off that threat and bounded clear.

A good jump at the last sealed the issue, allowing McGarvey to just keep his mount up to the task inside the final furlong.

It was a timely winner for trainer Shark Hanlon, who has a weekend engagement at Auteuil with Hewick in the French Champion Hurdle.

Jody McGarvey said: "He jumps very well. It wasn't the plan to make the running, but he jumped so well that I wasn't going to give the ground away.

"He had a little look in front and I had him nice and relaxed, and he was breathing well. I didn't feel like I was going too hard.

"I was talking to him (Shark Hanlon) about an hour ago and he informed me that was a certainty! They are all watching in an Irish pub in Chantilly."

Additional reporting by Michael Graham