Trainer Robert Smerdon and Irish jockey Tom Ryan have claimed their third Australian Hurdle in four years with Arch Fire an impressive winner at Ballarat.

The pair teamed to win with Kirribilli Gold (2012) and Westsouthwest (2013) when the race was run run at Sandown.

Having just his second run over jumps in almost two years, Arch Fire ($4.80) handled the wet track easily to score by six lengths from Zuhayr ($15) with Fieldmaster ($3.60 fav) another half length third.

Arch Fire won his first two starts over jumps in 2013 and was preparing for a return to jumping last year when he was sidelined with a hairline fracture to a knee.

Normally such an injury would require a four-month break but Smerdon sent the gelding to the paddock for an extra two months.

"Being a wet-tracker and a jumper we left him out longer and he hasn't looked back," Smerdon said.

The trainer said Arch Fire had been ring-rusty on his jumping return at Ballarat when last of four in April but had improved since.

"He made mistakes first-up but he's only had four hurdle starts and won three of them but he can still improve," Smerdon said.

"Under pressure he made a couple of mistakes today, but in the end he was good and he can get better."

Smerdon said Arch Fire would head to the Grand National Hurdle, this year run at Warrnambool, in July.

He said if the gelding was to win at Warrnambool he would consider getting Arch Fire's steeplechasing ticket to run in the Grand National Steeplechase at Ballarat where he would be eligible for $300,000 bonus.

Arch Fire's success was Smerdon's third for the afternoon after Michael Walker guided Tapestry Vision and Zumari to success in maiden races earlier in the day.

"It's been a great day for the stable and there's been great prize money here," Smerdon said.

"It's always good to win a race anywhere but to win a feature jumps race is even better."