Just On Fire had shown at Cork 18 days ago that his turn was imminent and equipped with a tongue-tie and cheek-pieces the Barathea gelding got off the mark in great style on attempt number ten in the Mimco Handicap at Down Royal.

Ben Curtis got the favourite to the front with two furlongs left to run and the outcome was soon beyond doubt. The three-year-old kept up the gallop to beat the staying-on Stones Peak by three and a quarter lengths with gamble of the contest Bangalore Diamond (8/1 this morning into 9/2) having to settle for third having had every chance.

Andy Oliver trains Just On Fire for Richard Pegum and the County Tyrone handler remarked: "His form suggested that he deserved that. He had a good run at Cork from an outside draw last time and Ben gave him a good ride.

"He strode away from the field well there and he enjoys his racing and I think there's a bit of improvement in him."

Oliver was seen chatting with British Open hero Darren Clarke in the aftermath and he explained: "We went to the same school, the Royal School of Dungannon.

"I was a year in front of Darren. I was in upper sixth and Darren was in lower sixth. We played on the same rugby team together.

“Darren came in one day and said that he was giving up the rugby to concentrate on the golf. I said to him why would you do that as you'll never make it at golf!

"Seriously though we all knew how good he was at golf from an early age but he was a good rugby player too. We played in the back row together, I was number seven and Darren was at 6 or 8."