Asserted came home best to take the first division of the extended two and a quarter mile maiden hurdle in Kilbeggan.

Joseph O'Brien 's charge was making his racecourse debut after a long absence since finishing fifth in a point-to-point at Lisronagh for Pat Doyle in March 2019.

You couldn't have called him an obvious winner when Shane Fitzgerald was exercising his arms on him in fourth approaching the home bend.

However, the Kayf Tara gelding, in the first-time tongue-tie, began to reel in the horses in front of him and strode into contention in second on the outer at the last.

He picked off Kavanaghs Cross upon touching down and won going away by a ready four and a half lengths at 9/2.

The runner-up went off the 9/4 favourite and was a couple of lengths ahead of Gail Flight (7/2).

Fitzgerald said: “He came home very well. He’s not the quickest in the world but he’d stay galloping all day. He’s a nice horse and he’ll definitely improve off that.

“I ride out for Joseph two days a week and also for John Ryan two days and that’s my third winner.”

A gamble on Creggsman (40/1 - 17/2) went awry as he finished fifth.

Additional reporting by Alan Magee