Swelltime was left to come home a facile winner in the opening Connolly's Red Mills Maiden Hurdle at Gowran Park.

The Joe Murphy-trained gelding cut out the running in the two-miler and was pressed going to the second last by Pepperoni Pete

That rival crashed out at the penultimate flight, however, and badly hampered the third-running Isotope who unseated his rider.

It left the way clear for Swelltime, and David Mullins, to record an easy 16 length success over Royal Aide

The 9/4 favourite had been narrowly denied on the Flat at the Curragh on his last outing having also been runner-up over timber at Tipperary previously.

Assistant trainer Joe Murphy junior said:- “He could go for a staying Flat handicap at Galway. 

“He’s a nice horse, obviously a good stayer, and possibly something like the Lartigue (Handicap Hurdle at Listowel) might suit him. 

“We can make plenty of use of him over two miles.” 

(Quotes by Alan Magee)