The well-backed Sound Money took the opener at Killarney, the Killarney Outlook Publications Maiden Hurdle, scoring under Robbie Colgan for Edward O'Grady and the Out Of The Blue Syndicate.

A three time winner on the level in France, the son of Zamindar was sold for E25,000 at Arqana in November last year.

He finished last on his debut over hurdles in a Grade 2 at Fairyhouse, before running a much better race at the Punchestown Festival, finishing fourth in the race won by Koshari.

Available at 2/1 this morning, he came in for plenty of market support, opening on-course at 6/4 before going off the clear 5/4 favourite.

Second early, he improved to lead after the second flight and made the rest of the running, keeping on well from the last to score by seven lengths Little Stevie finished second at 5/1 under Adrian Heskin for Edward O'Grady, while Clarin Lad (66/1) was seven and a half lengths back in third under Roger Loughran for Sandra Hughes.

Edward O'Grady said afterwards: "I'm hoping he'll be quite nice and his jumping can only get better, being 16.2hh, he'll jump a fence later on and I think there's a future for him.

"He got lit up early on and he (Robbie Colgan) was happy to let him stride on as there wasn't much pace. I think we might put him away until the autumn now and it's great for his owners who also previously owned Our Conor before Barry Connell bought him."

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes