Eamon High, left, jumps the last with As You Were© Photo Healy Racing
The market principals had the opening two and a half mile maiden hurdle in Killarney to themselves and it was Eamon High who prevailed by the tightest margin.
The 5/2 chance looked like he had worn down 11/8 favourite As You Were on the run-in, however, the jolly rallied well under Denis O'Regan and fought back on the inside.
The pair flashed past the post together but Eamon High and Dylan Robinson got the verdict by a nose.
They pulled six lengths clear of Macgiloney in third at 8/1.
Trainer Henry de Bromhead said: "He showed good form in the winter and we put him away as we always felt he'd be better on better ground.
"I was worried about pace today as he'll stay further but he travelled well and hopefully he is a horse who'll progress. We think he is a nice horse and he'll stay going for the summer.
"I'm getting old now because I trained his mother! Barry Geraghty won a maiden hurdle on her, Gabrona, here many moons ago (in 2006) and I'm delighted to get him as he is as tough as his mother."
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
