The McCarthy Insurance Group Maiden Hurdle appeared to offer Walk To Freedom a good opportunity to open his account and he duly took advantage with considerable ease at Cork.

The Jessica Harrington-trained gelding was scoring at the seventh attempt over hurdles having shown some wayward tendencies previously including when running out through the rail when holding every chance on the run-in at Fairyhouse back in October.

The 7/4 favourite and chief market rival Lisa's Legacy had the race between them in the straight, and the 'jolly' asserted before the final flight.

Robbie Power 's mount appeared to have plenty in hand coming home six and a half lengths clear, with Deserter the same distance further away in third.

Power said, "He's a horse that we have always thought an awful lot off. He has his quirks but he's grown up as well. He ran far too free the last day at Thurles but was more relaxed today and jumped super.

"He's a horse that's very shy and at Fairyhouse when Paul (Carberry on The Herds Garden pulled his stick through to his right hand he jumped away from it. You want to be on the ball riding him out! "He handles that ground well, and hopefully we'll find a winners-of-one for him."

(TW &AM)