The Noel Meade-trained Bugs Moran picked a nice race to open his account when powering home to land the €50,000 INH Stallion Owners EBF Novice Handicap Hurdle final at Fairyhouse.

The Pour Moi gelding had been placed on his handicap debut at Cork last month and went a couple of places better in today's three-miler.

Top-weight Eric Bloodaxe looked set to score when a couple of lengths clear running down to the last but got in under the final flight.

Jack Kennedy, stepping in for the injured Sean Flanagan, got a good tune from Bugs Moran as he swooped on the run-in to record a length-and-three-quarters success at odds of 10/1.

“It was great to get Jack. He's a super rider and it was a pleasure to watch him going around,” said Meade.

“He jumped great for him, stayed well and he loves good ground. The trip was a big help to him and he's learning on the job.

“I bred him myself, there's not a whole lot of him — he's very light and spindly. I actually sold another one to Tomas but he ran so badly the twice he ran I said to him I'd take him back and give him the pick of three. He picked him and I'm delighted for them that he's won.

“He jumps well and he'll jump fences too on fast ground. He'll keep going for a while anyway.”