Connections of Art Of Payroll will now look at cross channel targets after the five-year-old son of Shirocco took the two-mile handicap hurdle in effortless fashion.

Paul Carberry took over from the suspended Bryan Cooper on the well-backed 7/4 favourite, and the former champion rode the gelding with typical confidence.

Dessie Hughes’ charge was kept wide throughout and cruised into contention early in the straight.

Favourite backers had their only anxious moment with a slight mistake at the last but it made no difference as Art Of Payroll came home on a tight rein two and a half lengths ahead of Bishopslough Gift Of Dgab was a further half a length adrift in third.

Hughes said, “The intention coming away from here the last day was to run in the County Hurdle but he’s too far off the weights. Even with a 5lb mandatory penalty I don’t think he’d get in.

“If by some miracle he does get in he’ll go there, and if not then he’ll go to Liverpool.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson