Triple Grade 1 hurdle winner showed class is permanent when he absolutely hosed up in the qualified riders’ race over a mile and six at Galway under Nina Carberry for Noel Meade.

Earlier this month he had made his comeback from two and a half years off the track injured when running eye-catchingly well for a long way in a two mile maiden on the flat. Emmett McNamara didn’t give him a hard time in coming third that day.

This time Nina Carberry was motionless as he cruised into the lead a furlong out and powered away to win by six and a half lengths and justify 5/4 favouritism. There are bigger prizes still to be won with the nine-year-old.

A delighted Nina Carberry said: “Everyone was worried about him overcoming the bounce factor, but you couldn’t ask for any better.

“Hopefully he’ll keep improving now. I wanted to look after him. That’s why I had him outside. Once I had hit the better ground coming up the hill he went quickly clear and it was like a piece of work for him." Cry For The Moon won the race for second at 8/1 and Staying Article took third at 13/2.

(Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes)