Atomic City laid down an early marker for his division in the JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle at Cheltenham when displaying a smart turn of foot.

Joseph O’Brien’s three-year-old was ridden with great confidence by J J Slevin at the back of the field and the 88-rated performer from the Flat jumped with aplomb bar one sticky leap at the second last.

Charles Darnay hit the front off the home bend under Harry Cobden but Slevin had him in his sights and brought his mount up against the rail before quickening clear to win by four lengths and justify 11-10 favouritism.

Coral cut him to 14-1 from 25s for the Triumph Hurdle in March with his rider suitably impressed.

Slevin said: “He’s a high-class Flat horse who was quite good in Cork the first day and the aim today was to get him to spit it (the bridle) out today.

“He would be high-up in Joseph’s pecking order I would say, at least this stage, and I’d say he’s going to be a Triumph Hurdle horse, he’s a fair horse.

“I’d say he will be better with softer ground. He’s jumped and travelled well and he couldn’t have been better there.

“He’s won easy and it’s still early days. A lot of the lads won’t have gone to the well yet with their juveniles and as the year goes on we’ll find out more. But he was very impressive today.”