Apache Stronghold dominated in his first race over fences to the delight of trainer Noel Meade who was in attendance at Down Royal.

The six-year-old gelding reached a mark of 147 over hurdles, but showed an aptitude for the bigger obstacles. He had two and a half miles to negotiate in The Porter & Co. Beginners Steeplechase.

He was duly sent off the 3/10 favourite to deliver and backers must have enjoyed Paul Carberry's armchair ride. The pair made all and only Thunder And Roses (4/1) held any chance of hunting them down. However, the favourite comfortably obliged by three lengths. It was 30 lengths back to third-placed Quickasyoucan

Noel Meade said: "I couldn't be happier, he jumped like a buck. He will improve for that, but he was fit enough for the race. Paul thinks he'll be better with a good gallop.

"He hasn't schooled on grass, he schooled on all-weather so you never know. He does like getting goodish ground, but he should go on anything.

"The Drinmore has to be the race but I also have Very Wood, but he may want further. We'll have to see about whether we can get a race into him (Apache Stronghold) before the Drinmore."