Pont Audemer was the subject of plenty of support throughout the day and the money proved to be shrewd as he comfortably took the second split of the 80-95 handicap hurdle.

he was inn rear of the 10 runners rounding the home, but still well in touch, and came widest of all with an eye-catching run to close on Port Rashid two out.

That leader was a sitting duck as Pont Audemer touched down in the lead and asserted in good style before the last.

He cleared it well and strode in to score by four and a quarter lengths at 3/1 from a best-priced 8/1 this morning. Fiery Brown stayed on for second at 13/2 and was seven and a half lengths clear of Port Rashid (25/1) who showed up well for a long way after a long absence.

Jockey Kieran Buckley said: "It was my first time riding the horse, I had ridden him plenty at home and he is a cracking little horse. He had won in France but it took him a while to get the hang of things over hurdles.

"He dropped down in grade today, there were only ten runners and he has done it very, very nicely. It took a while for him to click, but hopefully can progress."

This continued trainer Gavin Cromwell's red-hot form as this was his 10th winner in just over a fortnight.

Additional reporting by Tom Weekes