Avant Tout goes on from Utmost Zeal© Photo Healy Racing
Avant Tout stuck on well in testing conditions to make a winning Irish debut for Willie Mullins in the opener at Tramore this afternoon.
The five-year-old was sent off 4/9 favourite in the two-mile maiden hurdle but had to work hard to reel back front-runner Utmost Zeal after that rival built up a big lead early on.
Ruby Walsh got to work after the third last on the hotpot and he whittled away the advantage going to the penultimate flight.
He had his rivals measure when the long-time leader crashed out at the last and went on to record a 15-length success over 66/1 shot Germany John
The winner was making it two wins in two career starts having also scored on his sole outing on the level in France.
Walsh said afterwards: "It's heavy going out there. I can't say I was really confident as he was off the bridle from the top of the hill but to be fair to him he kept going all the way and he stays really well."
(Additional reporting by Donal Murphy)
