Ponmeword put a nasty incident at Tramore last time behind him when regaining the winning thread with a facile success in the 2m6f handicap hurdle.

Previously a good winner over a shorter distance (2m3f) here at the Christmas meeting, the nine-year-old then slipped up on the downhill run to two out at Tramore.

Rob Jones’ mount got the trip really well here, the 3/1 favourite leading early in the straight and stretching clear before the final flight to beat Western Man (7/1) by an impressive five lengths. Scrapper Jack (11/1) was another seven lengths away in third.

Winning trainer Eric McNamara said, “He obviously goes on the ground and is fit and well but, when you get ground as bad as that, it exaggerates the distances.

“He was unlucky before but seems to have improved for whatever reason. He jumps equally well both over hurdles and fences and could go for either next.”

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes