A couple of lovely jumps at the last two flights sealed the deal for 13/8 favourite Balko D'ange in the featured Listed handicap hurdle at Limerick.

The handicap debutant was runner-up in his previous two maiden hurdles, and travelled nicely for Niall Moore as they prepared to face the final two obstacles.

The four-year-old gelding popped them well and that enabled him to hold runner-up Bright Legend (15/2) who kept trying all the way to the line. There was a length and a-half between the pair at the winning post. St Faz (17/2) was another three and three-quarter lengths away in third.

Philip Fenton said: "That was a great way to break his duck. We were disappointed with him here the last day, but the winner (Cottesloe Sunshine) won since so you could only be happy with it. He missed a few hurdles then, which is unlike him, as he is generally quick.

"He was in off a nice mark today and looks like an improver. It was a nice pot to win and we'll go step by step with him now and he is a novice until the end of the season."

Additional reporting by Tom Weekes