Mount Gunnery appreciated the step up in distance to open his account under Ruby Walsh in the Clonacody Maiden Hurdle at Clonmel.

The champion jockey elected to make all on the well-backed 6/5 favourite, asserting after two out after a number of rivals tried to throw down a challenge entering the straight.

A mistake at the last made little difference as Pat Fahy’s charge stayed on well on the run-in to beat newcomer Domesday Book by four and a half lengths, with Bar Stool Bob just a short-head further away in third.

Fahy said, “He’s a nice horse and I’ve always thought a bit of him. He works fast and works like he has speed but we got codded and the trip has made a difference. He was staying on in his races and the step up in trip was a help.

“He doesn’t want winter heavy but it was nice to see a cut and he handled it. He’ll be kept on the go.”

Ruby Walsh said, “He ran well enough in a competitive handicap at Punchestown, and a handicapper back in a maiden at this time of year, with the experience they have on drier ground, they tend to be able to jump quicker than the maidens.

“He may only be a 102 horse in a handicap but he can run way above that in a maiden with experience he has. David Casey rode him the last day and he told me this morning he was more of a galloper than anything.”

(TW & AM)