Ainm Spartacus sprang a 33/1 shock when producing a fine front-running performance in the juvenile maiden hurdle at Gowran Park.

Tom Doyle 's mount jumped well at the head of affairs and stuck on gamely down the straight to repel all-comers. Luddenmore tried to throw down a challenge from the second last but couldn't peg back the Kieran Purcell-trained gelding, going down by three-lengths.

The winner had been well-beaten on two hurdle starts previously but a change of tactics paid dividends today.

"Tom said the further he was going the better he was getting," said Purcell afterwards.

"He likes to get a good foot into the ground. He jumping was terrible up to now but the extra schooling we did made a big difference."