Former champion apprentice Connor King partnered his first Irish jumps winner when John Cannon readily landed the Connolly’s Red Mills Irish EBF Auction Maiden Hurdle at Listowel.

The Joe Murphy-trained gelding travelled smoothly to lead approaching the straight and the 10/11 favourite asserted from the penultimate flight to easily beat Lookondebrightside by eight lengths. Beeverstown Bullet was a further four lengths back in third.

King said, “He was very good. He had a good run the last day in Galway and the race is working out well. We were confident coming here today.

“Everything went right. He got a good run around, jumped brilliant and finished out the race well. Hopefully he can kick on from here.

“He went around on the bridle and it was probably like a bit of work for him.

“He won his bumper really well and has had some good runs in defeat.

“That’s my first winner over hurdles in Ireland but I had ten in England. I’m with Joe Murphy at the moment so it’s great to get a winner for him.”

King was champion apprentice in both 2013 and 2015 but the tall rider switched his attention to the jumps in the UK a few years later due to his weight.