Punters preferred Esporao to Hail Caesar for the opening Mayo News Maiden Hurdle but they got it wrong as the latter ran out a convincing seven length winner in the hands of Alan Crowe.

The grey led after two out and he threw another athletic leap at the last to seal victory over Half Full The aforementioned Esporao was too free for his own good and he ended up fading into fifth.

Winning trainer Ted Walsh said of the winning Barry Connell owned son of Montjeu: "He jumped and travelled and the bit of experience helped him. On his flat form he was entitled to do that. He will run in the four-year-old novice hurdle now at Galway next Monday."

The Kill handler concluded by joking: "Hopefully they will put on a winners hurdle for four-year-old grey horses at the next meeting here."

A 285,000 guineas foal, Hail Caesar won on his debut for Ballydoyle in July 2008 and in controversial circumstances at Gowran in July of last year. He has a rating of 100 on the level.