Francin was a very warm order for division two of the maiden hurdle in Navan and the confidence proved to be well founded as he strode home.

His close third in a maiden hurdle at Leopardstown over Christmas has been well franked since by the winner Cobbler's Way who was then runner-up in a Grade 1. In addition, the horses in second and fourth have come out and decisively won their maiden hurdles.

The 4/7 favourite readily swept past Razzle Dazzle Love on the run to the final flight where he was clear.

He was untidy at the last, however, Paul Townend kept him busy and the pair came home by three and a half lengths. The Very Man (5/2) put in good late work to stay on for second by four and a half lengths from Now Where Or When (66/1).

Willie Mullins said: "It was hard work.

"His race at Christmas has worked out well and now he is another winner out of it.

"It is hard to look impressive there - I thought he was going to be impressive but he seemed to get stuck in the ground.

"I'll find a nice race in the spring somewhere and he can go up to 2m4f on nicer ground."

Additional reporting by Tom Weekes