Lone Wolf collared Defy De Mee on the run-in to take Fairyhouse's two and a quarter mile maiden hurdle with Mark Walsh in the plate.

Defy De Mee held a healthy six-length lead rounding the home turn with 6/5 favourite Column Of Fire and Lone Wolf chasing in second and third respectively.

Lone Wolf moved into second entering the straight and the 9/4 shot made relentless headway to close at the last. He always looked like he was going to catch Defy De Mee who gave best in the final 100 yards.

The easy-to-back 9/4 shot hit the line a length and a quarter to the good from the 14/1 runner-up.

Column Of Fire, who was very strong in the market, could make no impression on the front pair and had to settle for third, a further three and three quarter lengths away.

Joseph O'Brien, who was saddling a double, said: “He did well because it looked like Willie’s horse (Defy De Mee) had got away. He jumped well and Mark said he settled well for him.

“Sarah bought him as a store (for 33,000 euro). He’s a big, good-looking horse and he has an engine. He’ll jump a fence eventually, and hopefully he’ll make a nice hurdler as well.

“He’d have no problem going two and a half but I thought he showed pace from the third last up to the line. It’s hard to make up ground when something gets away from you like that. I was quite impressed with him.

“He’ll have to race somewhere between now and the Dublin Racing Festival, so he’ll probably go somewhere over Christmas. You don’t like going straight into good races but sometimes you have to.”

O'Brien also won the opening race on the card through Mortal

Additional reporting by Alan Magee