Mr Escobar on target for Willie Mullins' first winner at Sedgefield

The six-year-old 1/3 favourite, who had finished second on the Flat at Chester earlier this year, was also Mullins' first ever runner at the north east venue and he scored a four-and-a-quarter length victory over the Rebecca Menzies-trained Kingston Narcissus.

“I don’t think Willie has ever had a runner here and I don’t think he would have been good enough to win a maiden hurdle in Ireland, so Patrick and Willie thought he might be as well to come here,” jockey Brian Hayes told Sky Sports Racing.

“He’s a bit quirky. There was one day at Killarney when he actually ran out at the first hurdle.

“It suited us today where the hurdles were and the best of the ground was on the wide outside – it didn’t really matter as he’d have won anyway, but it’s nice to get it done.

“I suppose the undulations here make it a bit like Tramore, except going the other way round, the way you are always turning. It suited him as it kept him interested and he jumped really well.”

Hayes is the partner of Rachael Blackmore, who has been on the sidelines in recent weeks with a neck injury but is targeting a comeback for the busy Christmas period.

“She’s recovering well, I think she’s aiming to be back the week before Christmas,” said Hayes.