Mr Josiey Wales readily justified odds-on favouritism for Dermot McLoughlin in the opening maiden hurdle over an extended three miles at Cork.

The 4/6 shot tracked Dr Shirocco throughout and the pair were nicely clear of the remainder three out.

Mr Josiey Wales jumped the next flight well which saw him land in the lead under Danny Hand and he asserted before the final flight.

He popped that and strode in by 12 lengths. Dr Shirocco (11/2) had no more to give and was passed for second by Imperial Tune (8/1).

Jockey Hand said: "We went a good gallop the whole way. I thought I was in bother when he made a bad mistake at one down the back (straight) when he had gone asleep underneath me, but he recovered from it well and picked up well.

"The ground is just safe for him, he wants soft ground. His future is definitely over fences."

Former point-to-point winner Mr Josiey Wales had finished runner-up in a maiden hurdle at Navan last month behind the impressive Noble Yeats.

Additional reporting by Tom Weekes