Prince Of Fire stepped up on his return to form at Bellewstown with a comfortable five length success in the two mile Tayto Group Hurdle at Down Royal.

Charlie Swan’s seven-year-old sat behind Distant Memories jumped well and led before two out before powering home to win at 7/1.

Charlie Swan said: “He met every hurdle perfectly today. He wants good ground so went wide and it turned out great.

“He was a bit unlucky in Galway where he was nearly brought down. He’s a gorgeous big horse. He’ll go back over fences. He’s a hard horse to place.”

Distant Memories, after cutting out much of the pace, took the runners-up berth at 11/4 while Spring Hawk came in third at 12/1 in the nine-runner contest.

Prince Of Fire was third at Bellewstown to Passage Vendome a week ago in a two mile one furlong hurdle.