SIR Erec, who is a particularly noteworthy recruit to jumping after developing into a high-class three-year-old in the autumn, justified 11/10 favouritism in the Paddy Power-sponsored juvenile hurdle to serve notice of his Triumph Hurdle credentials.

On his first outing for Joseph O’Brien and J.P. McManus, this son of Camelot was kept out of trouble by Mark Walsh in a race that contained its fair share of carnage. Sir Erec missed the second last but when he needed a good jump at the last he produced one and this was instrumental in him holding the well-touted Willie Mullins runner, Tiger Tap Tap, by a neck.