Hollow Games and Davy Russell jump the last in front © Photo Healy Racing
The 1/9 favourite Hollow Games duly obliged in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden Hurdle to keep his unbeaten record intact.
The point-to-point and dual bumper winner was always prominent before moving through to lead at the third-last.
From there Davy Russell’s mount did no more than was necessary as he beat Ailie Rose (16/1) by six and a half lengths.
Paddy Power left him unchanged at 16/1 for the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle and shortened him to 33/1 (from 40s) for the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle.
Winning trainer Gordon Elliott said: "It's great to get a winner, it's a place I like starting off a few horses.
"He's a nice, horse, he's a big galloper. He only does what he has to do.
"Davy (Russell) said he is not doing a stroke the whole way around. When he jumped the second last, he gave him a squeeze and he picked up.
"Yes, he has (a nice way of jumping), he is very quick. He is a chaser, that's what he has been bought to be."
When asked if he is more of an Albert Bartlett horse, he replied: Yes, he is more of a staying horse."
"He is so laid-back you could go any trip with him. You could go four miles with him!"
"I'm not sure where we will go with him but I might bring him back to 2m 4f in Navan."
Paddy Power kept Hollow Games at 16/1 for the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle and cut him from 40/1 to 33/1 for the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle.
Quotes from Michael Graham
