Hugh Morgan is on a roll and easy-to-back Annexation (15/2) was another winner for the young rider in the Paul & Carmel Fay Memorial Handicap Hurdle.
A real good ground performer, the son of Wootton Bassett enjoyed the underfoot conditions and challenged 4/1 jt-fav Golden Jewel on the run to the final flight.
The latter was less than fluent at the last and Henry de Bromhead’s 5-year-old went away to aacount for him by three and a half lengths.
A winner on the Flat at Gowran last year, this was a second success over hurdles for the South Ros Racing Syndicate-owned gelding.
Morgan said: “He got a bit keen after we jumped off and ideally I would have liked a bit more cover but he jumped and travelled great.
“He got under the third last a bit and I struggled to keep my position but when he got out onto the fresher ground he galloped all the way to the line.
“He’d no ill effects from his fall (at Killarney last month). It’s great to get him back to winning ways and get his confidence back as well.
“It was great for the owners to be here today, and he’s proving a great buy (18,000 guineas) by Paul Roche at the Horses In Training Sale.”