Rathnure Rebel burned off his rivals from the front to run out an easy winner of the Kerry Group Stayers Novice Hurdle at Cork.

Sean Flanagan gave the 9/2 shot a positive ride in the three-miler and he proved much too strong for his rivals in the closing stages.

8/13 favourite Monbeg Notorious was being asked questions a long way from home and could only plug on one-paced in the closing stages to take second.

The Noel Meade-trained Rathnure Rebel asserted going to the penultimate flight and overcame a slight mistake there to open up a commanding advantage.

He could afford to take things easy on the run-in to record a 11-length victory. The winner had opened his account over timber at Clonmel in similar fashion last month.

Flanagan said afterwards:- "He came with a massive reputation and I suppose he has confirmed it today; they always said he wanted three miles and heavy ground.

"He travelled great the whole way and jumped better than he has ever done. He is staying type on heavy ground and is improving."

Paddy Power introduced the winner at 33/1 for the Albert Bartlett Novice Hurdle.

(Quotes by Thomas Weekes)