Figaroc one for Mullins and Townend

Figaroc picked off Trust Me Nate after the last to win the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden Hurdle in Clonmel for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend.

Trust Me Nate, the 5/2 favourite led throughout for Jordan Gainford and the pair were soon well clear. They had a reduced advantage before halfway, but were still boxing on rounding the home bend.

Figaroc moved into a threatening position between the final two flights and took full advantage when Trust Me Nate was less than fluent at the last.

Figaroc grabbed him on the run-in and went on by a length at the line. Battle It Out was popular in the betting market (5/1 - 3/1) and kept on three parts of a length off the runner-up in third.

This was a marked improvement on Figaroc's previous two Irish outings.

Afterwards, Townend said: "He has taken his time to come right and has improved with a couple of runs - fitness-wise as much as everything. I don't think the track really suited as he is a big unit and is maturing the whole time.

"He is a brilliant jumper and, riding him over hurdles, you feel like you'd like to go down to a fence on him. It was a messy race and it was nice to get a win out of him. He can keep improving away and I think he has more filling out to do."

Figaroc had one race in his native France and filled the runner-up berth in a conditions hurdle back in May 2019.

Additional reporting by Tom Weekes