Brutal justified 1/2 favouritism in the opener at Cork, the E Tarrant & Sons Skoda Dealer 3yo Maiden Hurdle.

The son of Pivotal was successful on the level for Ger Lyons last year, and was sixth in a Listed race at Leopardstown on his most recent start in June.

Making his debut for Gordon Elliott this afternoon he was prominent in the early stages before settling behind the leaders.

He was pushed along to challenge in third from three out, and hit the front before the last, going on to score by a length and three parts under Davy Russell.

Joseph O'Brien saddled the second and third, with Grey Waters (7/2) and JJ Slevin a half a length in front of Richard Strauss (16/1).

Elliott said afterwards: "It wasn't the strongest race in the world but he did what he did and will improve from it and will have to improve going forward. I think he's a nice horse and had a good (flat) rating.

"I'd have to say a big thanks to Qatar Racing and Sheikh Fahad for sending him to me and it's my first runner in those colours, and I'm not sure if he's had a jumper run in those colours either.

"Fair play to them and Ger Lyons (previous trainer) recommended that he'd go three year old hurdling to help change his mind a little and a thanks has to go to him as well.

"He jumped great but Davy said he was a little bit green and he'll come on from it; if fairness Keith Donoghue has done a lot of work schooling him at home.

"Like a lot of those juveniles after their first run, they will go up or down or stay where they are and we've often had horses that were rated 60 and end up being better than the 100 horses, so it's how they take to it the next day is how you know."

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes