Seskinane powered past Akatara on the run-in at Kilbeggan after the pair bypassed the final hurdle due to a nasty fall suffered by Eddie Power from Ballinahow Oscar when it was jumped as the first.

In-form jockey Declan Lavery set out to make all on Akatara (7/2) and despite six horses closing up, a good jump at what proved to be the last looked to have everyone struggling.

However, 2/1 favourite Seskinane came with a sweeping run under Derek Fox to win comfortably by six lengths in this extended two mile three maiden hurdle.

Tom Taaffe’s Key People – on debut – took third place at 16/1 a further four and a half lengths back, with Paul Townend in the saddle.

Mark McNiff trains the seven-year-old winner and he said: “He had a few runs in point-to-points, but they were spread out over a long time.

“His jumping has improved. He’s getting lower and is a bit slicker. He’ll maybe have one more run before we give him a break.

“Really two miles on heavy ground is his ticket.”

Jockey Derek Fox, who lost his seven-pound claim with this winner, added: “He travelled very well. He won very easy. He jumped a bit better today. It has taken a lot of schooling at home.”

This opening race of the new season at Kilbeggan got favourite backers off to a good start.

It was reported that jockey Eddie Power was taken to Tullamore hospital for a precautionary X-ray.

Additional reporting by Alan Magee