Shanahan’s Turn stepped up in trip in the two and a half mile maiden hurdle in Leopardstown and saw it out well to win by four and three quarter lengths.

The 2/1 joint favourite with Andrew Lynch in the plate saw off 9/4 shot Blue Bicycle who put in a slow jump at the second last and was unable to cut into the lead.

The five-year-old gelding Shanahan’s Turn travelled well and hit the front after the second last. He wasn’t for stopping after popping the last and won comfortably.

His trainer Henry de Bromhead said: “I was a bit disappointed with him in Down Royal, but he needed further. He jumped great and he’s been working really well. He’s a nice horse and we’ll go chasing with him next season.”

Shanahan’s Turn was third to Gilt Shadow in a maiden hurdle over two miles at Down Royal’s Festival of Racing in November. Rockdown the other 2/1 joint favourite, was a head out of the placings in third of the seven runners.

Additional reporting by Alan Magee