“The man's horses are in great form” said racing manager Frank Berry about trainer Joseph O'Brien today, after their J.P. McManus-owned Dawn Rising (4/1 — 100/30) landed Listowel's opening John J.Galvin Maiden Hurdle.

A Galileo-sired brother to Irish Derby winner Sovereign, Dawn Rising returned from a 748 days absence when a beaten favourite at the Galway festival in July, finishing third to smart prospect Champ Kiely, and today faced 15 rivals. The Short Go (10/11f) led at the third last but was headed by Dawn Rising at the next and, from there, the five-year-old stayed on strongly for a comfortable win.

McManus was present and afterwards manager Berry stated “he learned a bit from Galway and came on from the run and it was a good performance.

“He bumped into a good horse in Galway and in fairness he was off for a long time as well. He came forward, jumped reasonably well and will learn a little bit from it.”

He added “we were initially disappointed with his Galway run but thought he was off for so long that he would come on for it. He has taken well to hurdling and we'll go down the novice route and see where he ends up.

“The man's horses are in great form.”

It was trainer O'Brien's seventh winner at the festival and while he bagged four consecutive feature-race wins until yesterday, has no runner in today's big race, the Grade B Ladbrokes Handicap Hurdle.

Willie Mullins is currently leading Listowel trainer, with eight wins.