Tycoon Prince pictured on his way to victory under Bryan Cooper© Photo Healy Racing
Tycoon Prince showed his class as he ran out an easy winner of the opener at Punchestown, the Free BETDAQ Trading Software On betdaqtraders.com Maiden Hurdle.
Fourth to Moon Racer on his debut at Fairyhouse in April of 2014, the son of Trans Island then won his next three starts in bumpers.
Making his debut over flights today the Gordon Elliott trained five-year-old was sent off the 1/4 favourite under Bryan Cooper.
Sent straight to the front he made all, despite jumping left at times.
He eased clear on the run to the last and went away on the run-in to score by six and a half lengths in the colours of Gigginstown House Stud. St Stephens Green (5/1) ran well to take second under Danny Mullins for his cousin Emmet, while Joshua Lane (11's this morning and from 6's to 5's on-course) was a further two and a quarter lengths back in third under Mark Walsh for Eddie Harty.
Bryan Cooper said afterwards: "He has done it easy. It wasn't ideal, he was a bit green in front and was getting a bit lonely, he ran off a couple of bends.
"The inside track here probably wouldn't suit him the best, you are always on the turn, but he couldn't have done it any easier.
"I gave him a squeeze turning in and he came alive and I had to take a pull going to the last as I was going to quick down to it.
"He has a serious amount of gears for a big horse and it's onwards and upwards with him now and hopefully he has a bright future.
"He can be very free and I didn't want to get into a fight with him. I've schooled him and sat on him plenty of times at home and I knew he jumped well.
"I didn't want to be stuck behind a few of the dodgy ones so I kept it simple, it wasn't the plan but sometimes you have to take matters into your own hands and it paid off.
"I think a big galloping track will suit him and I wouldn't be afraid to keep him over two miles either."
Tycoon Prince remains a 14/1 chance for the Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle with Paddy Power while he has been introduced at 16/1 for the Neptune Investments Novices Hurdle.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
