Marinero the 4/6 favourite, readily landed The Sean Graham Bookmakers Hurdle over two miles six furlongs at Down Royal.

The jolly tracked Killultagh Sarah throughout before easing into the lead at the elbow on the approach to the final fence.

He soon put daylight between himself and that rival and came in 20 lengths to the good under Ruby Walsh. Killultagh Sarah at 9/1 kept on for second.

Tony Martin said: "He'll probably get a break, come back and then go chasing. He won his point-to-point and jumps hurdles well.

"He was unlucky in Liverpool and was very unfortunate. He has run with a lot of credit all year. I do like him."

Marinero fell in a Grade Three handicap hurdle at Aintree when upsides the leaders at the last flight. His saddle had slipped at the penultimate obstacle.