Significant market support for a Charles Byrnes-trained horse usually means trouble for bookmakers, and layers were left licking their wounds once again as Alto Esqua made a successful debut in the Clonmel Maiden Hurdle.

The French-bred gelding, initially available online at 7/2 but always odds-on at the track and sent off a red-hot 4/6 favourite, was always travelling sweetly on the heels of the leaders.

The son of Network jumped well for Davy Russell, leading two out as he drew clear with Double Scores

Russell got a generous response after asking his mount to assert at this point, and he stayed on well to score by six lengths.

There was a further gap of 16 lengths back to Robbina in third.

Byrnes said, "He worked well in a schooling hurdle at Thurles ten days ago and Davy liked him. Today's race was the worst maiden hurdle of the year and I'd have been disappointed if he couldn't do the business. I had no worries about the ground.

"His owner (Martin White, from Adare, Co Limerick) bought him two years ago but he had niggly problems and we had to keep him back until now. That was no harm long-term as he is a big horse who will jump a fence next season.

"We'll look for a winners of one next."

(TW & AM)