Darwins Fox may have lost out to Sailors Warn in the battle for favouritism, but the Henry De Bromhead trained gelding won the more important duel on the racecourse, as he landed the spoils in the Laurels Pub & Restaurant Hurdle.

Having ran a cracker to finish second on his last start in a competitive handicap hurdle at the Fairyhouse Easter Festival, the John Brennan owned victor was well fancied to oblige this evening, and he was sent off a 7/4 chance.

The eight-year-old son of Kahaysi was settled in second by Andrew Lynch, as Aerlite Supreme attempted to make all.

The Michael Hourigan trained gelding was still in front going to the second last, but a mistake there saw Darwins Fox shoot to the front, and he kept on well away from the last to score comfortably by four lengths.

Sailors Warn, who was sent off the 13/8 favourite, never looked like winning, but he did stay on close home to take second under Ruby Walsh for Edward O'Grady.

Henry De Bromhead said afterwards: "He was well in at the weights (carried six pound less than Sailors Warn, and twelve pounds less than Aerlite Supreme).

"He had never run over two and a half before, so it was a case of whether or not he would get the trip, but he did win his beginners chase over two mile one at Galway.

"He even looked better suited there over that trip and he has got a great turn of foot. He is only coming back now to what I thought he once was.

"He likes Galway and he will probably go back there. I haven't given it much thought, we will see what mark he gets for the GPT (the Monday evening feature), while the Galway Plate is also an option."

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes