The Gold Cup winning group of Dr Ronan Lambe, Jim Culloty and Davy Russell were back in the winners’ enclosure as Prince Of Lombardy justified evens favouritism in the Devil’s Bit Maiden Hurdle at Thurles.

The Milan gelding was up with the pace throughout and Russell elected to send him on early in the straight.

A mistake at the final flight appeared to give closest rival Honey Pound a chance but the ‘jolly’ found plenty in the closing stages to prevail by two lengths. Spot Fine was also prominent in this two-mile event but could find no extra before the last to finish another five and a half lengths back in third.

Culloty said, “He’s a lovely big chaser and is only passing time before he goes over fences. He’s normally a great jumper but didn’t jump well today. But I blame the ground as that was the worry coming here today.

“He might have one more run on better ground in a novice hurdle before being let off and will go chasing next season.”

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes