Rajsalad galloped on strongly down the straight to gain a deserved victory in the two-mile-seven maiden hurdle at Thurles.

Charlie O'Dwyer took the mount on the Rajsaman gelding, trained by his father Conor, and was prominent throughout.

The 4/1 shot jumped to the front four from home and had his rivals at work turning for home. Gali Flight was held when blundering at the last and Rajsalad stayed on stoutly in the closing stages to post a six-length win.

The winner had been placed on his last three runs, most recently when chasing home Falcon Eight over a slightly shorter trip here a fortnight ago.

"I'm absolutely delighted and while everyone says it about horses, he really deserved it,” said O'Dwyer senior.

"Since we bought him from Benny and Jenny Walsh in Wexford he has been a superstar for us and just ran into a few good ones and Falcon Eight here on his last run.

"He has taken his time to come this year, he is a laid-back horse at home and probably wasn't fit enough earlier on when I thought he probably was. He has come to himself in the last couple of weeks.

"Charlie kicked on quite early on him but I said it to him to do that, as I'd rather he did that and got beaten, as he is a real Navan or Naas horse and stays and his jumping is super.

"He is a smashing horse to have and I won't over-tax him for the rest of the season and he'll go chasing October time. Chasing will hopefully be his game.

"Hugo (Kane) his owner is an unbelievable man and if you want to buy a horse, you just ring him and he doesn't question you.

“He goes racing every day, goes anywhere to watch his horses and for the likes of myself, we need to have an owner like him. He owns six of his own and is involved in other horses in my yard."

(Quotes by Tom Weekes)