Ask Nile opened his account under rules when taking the Surehaul Race Day Maiden Hurdle at Clonmel.

The Seamus Neville-trained gelding drifted from odds-on morning price quotes to go off the 9/4 market leader.

Brian Hayes had the Dromahane point-to-point winner up with the pace throughout, and asserted soon after the penultimate flight.

Hayes had to get serious as his mount faltered on the run but he kept going to beat Moroval by two and a half lengths. Veneziano Springs was a further half-length back in third.

Neville said, “I thought the ground would have caught him out a bit but he travelled well. On his previous runs I felt he would be there or thereabouts.

“He’ll probably go for a winners-of-one and stay hurdling this season. Chasing ultimately is what we will be aiming at.”