Master Oscar proved much too strong for his eight opponents in the opening two mile maiden hurdle at Limerick.

The six-year-old gelding, trained by Christy Roche, travelled well on the heels of the front-running Enjoy Responsibly on the long run to the second last.

The 9/2 shot grabbed the lead just before clearing that obstacle and from quickly put daylight between himself and Stolberg who stayed on for second place at 10/1 (was 18s this morning).

There was a comfortable three lengths between the pair at the finish. Charlie Swan’s Lo Siento was eight lengths further back in third. He was an on course market drifter from 13/2 to 8/1.

Winning jockey Ben Dalton said: “He jumped his way into it and he’s a chaser in the making. The ground was as heavy as it has been all year.”

After being headed coming to the second last, the nicely backed favourite Enjoy Responsibly – 11/8 to 11/10 – faded to come home fourth.

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes