Tullyhogue Fort (10s into 7/1) was in the front rank throughout and ran out a comfortable winner of the first division of the 2m5f handicap hurdle for horses rated 80-95.

Sean O’Keeffe’s mount asserted after the second last and wasn’t hard pressed to come home six and a half lengths clear of Yamato

The winner had run respectably a few times without managing to be placed in ten previous starts over hurdles.

Paul O’Neill, assistant to his father and winning trainer John, who’s based in Quin, County Clare, said: "He's always been capable of it and has been learning on the job really.

“We ran him in a few graded races just to get experience along the way. It took a while for the penny to drop and we dropped him back to two miles so he would learn more about racing.

“He was good today, he let him roll away and he stays. He was just beaten five lengths over three-miles-one and the same over two miles so he's capable of stepping up again.

“Hopefully the handicapper isn't too hard on him and he can win again. It was grand to get the win, he's a grand, honest, straightforward horse.”

Quotes from Gary Carson