Farceur Du Large off the mark in good style

Farceur Du Large rewarded Noel Meade’s faith with a six-length success in the Ulster Carpets Maiden Hurdle over an extended two and a quarter miles at Downpatrick.

The five-year-old Gigginstown gelding was always in the front rank and improved to challenge coming to the last.

Sean Flanagan had plenty of horse under him and the pair hit the lead at that obstacle before forging on along the run-in.

The winner obliged at 13/8 from 33/1 shot Max Flamingo Ennemi Public the 11/8 favourite, was another six lengths away in third for Gigginstown.

Noel Meade said: “I’ve been expecting that performance for quite some time — I never thought we would be coming here to run in a non winners’ maiden hurdle.

“He has always worked well at home and we always thought plenty of him.

“He’s a gorgeous-looking horse, you would think looking at him he is every inch a chaser.

“Whether he stays over hurdles or goes over fences, I wouldn’t know as I will have to talk to Eddie and Michael (O’Leary). He probably will stay over hurdles.

“He’ll build on that, he didn’t really handle the track that well but stayed on well. Sean just said he thought he was a lot stronger and more together horse than he was before.

“I’d say that wasn’t a bad race.”