Dunguib wins in Fairyhouse

Dunguib (30-100 favourite) maintained his unbeaten record over timber in effortless style when winning the Bar One Racing Royal Bond Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse.

Philip Fenton’s pride and joy landed last season’s Cheltenham bumper by a wide margin and looks like being every inch as good over timber.

Having had two easy tasks to date, his rivals in this Grade One contest were supposed to throw down a much sterner challenge.

But he never looked in any danger whatsoever as Brian O’Connell steered the six-year-old to a seven-length success over Some Present.

Tom Mullins ran a pacemaker for Some Present, with Deise Dan taking the field along at a nice tempo for the first mile and a half.

Having dropped off the leaders at halfway, Some Present then rushed up the inside of his stablemate at the head of affairs, with Tony McCoy moving up on Sweeps Hill.

However O’Connell, riding his first winner since turning professional last week, swept around the outside to take up the running approaching the second-last.

Dunguib jumped better than on his previous two starts, with a faultless display capped by a spring-heeled leap at the last.

Victor Chandler and William Hill cut Fenton's stable star to 2-1 favourite (from 9-4) for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle, while he is 16-1 with both firms for the Champion Hurdle.

Paddy Power were even more impressed, making Dunguib 6-4 from 2-1 for the Supreme. The Irish firm have him 4-1 favourite, with a run, for the hurdling crown.

Totesport are 10-1 about his Champion Hurdle chance.