After winning his maiden hurdle on his last start at the Galway Festival, Blackmail followed up in style this evening, taking the Awards And Gifts Hurdle under Ruby Walsh and Tony Martin.

The classy five-year-old son of Black Sam Bellamy was sent off at prohibitive odds of 1/7, touched 1/5, to account for his two rivals (Hero De Villeneuve was a non-runner).

The John Breslin owned gelding made all the running, easing clear before the second last to come home an un-extended seventeenth length winner. Bob Le Beau finished back in second, while Formidableopponent was thirty-four lengths behind in last.

Tony Martin said afterwards: “I’m delighted with that. Hopefully the ground out there is safe enough.

"He didn’t jump as fluently as he did the last day but he did what he had to do."

John Breslin added: “The ground was a bit quick for him, and he’ll come on a lot for that."

Martin went on to talk about Ted Veale, saying: “He came out of the race okay, and there is a good chance that he will go to York for the Ebor on Saturday."

Additional reporting by Michael Graham