Xsquared (6/1) shrugged off top-weight of 11-12 in the extended two mile handicap hurdle as he came home well clear with John Cullen doing the steering.

Joanna Morgan’s six-year-old gelding made good headway and came through to lead after jumping the second last. He was pursued by Illtakeitfromhere who took a crashing fall at the last, but both horse and jockey Shane Shortall were quickly up on their feet.

Cullen was able to ease Xsquared down as the pair had 11 lengths in hand over Noble Call who had cut out most of the running and who kept on one-paced for second at 8/1. The 4/1 favourite, Seeyouallincoppers was a length and a half further away in third.

“John (Cullen) has been very lucky for me and this track has also been lucky, I’ve had lots of winners here,” Joanna Morgan said.

“He’s a bit of a monkey and you couldn’t rely on him, but he loves hurdles. He’ll jump a fence too. He’s got loads of scope. I’ll stick him in a hurdle at Galway.”

Xsquared won over course and distance in July 2013.

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes