Cerberus absolutely ran away with Fairyhouse's 3yo maiden hurdle for Joseph O'Brien and JJ Slevin.

The 15/8 favourite raced prominently before taking the lead at the third flight in this two miler.

He had plenty of company on his heels jumping the third last but the opposition soon came off the bridle turning for home.

Cerberus was a couple of lengths ahead at the penultimate flight and tanked clear before the last.

He cruised in by 19 lengths to reward favourite backers at 15/8. The heavily-backed Red Gerry kept on for second at 2/1 without ever landing a glove on the winner. Guinevere completed the placings in third at 16/1, a further length and three parts away.

Joseph O'Brien said: “He won very well. I'm delighted for the lads who own him. Aidan O'Brien is the headmaster of the school.

“He handled the ground well, we were a bit worried about that before.

“I'd say he could come back here next month for the Grade 3 race. He got very close to the horse that won very well up the north, A Wave Of The Sea, in Punchestown and I think it would make sense to go there.

“You'd have to be impressed with him there.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson