Anyone that saw Mickelson go down by a neck on his bumper debut in May 2010 wouldn't have imagined that he'd be still a maiden after another five outings but a change to front-running tactics yielded dividends under Paul Carberry in the Racegoer's Package 25 euro Maiden Hurdle at Fairyhouse.

The very-useful Caolaneoin made a pleasing first start over timber but Mickelson jumped the last well and wasn't for pegging back on the run-in.

Caolaneoin is a fine big sort but he was three parts of a length down at the line with Valleymount three and three parts of a length back in third. Imperial Cascade ran well on his comeback from a lengthy break to be fourth.

Carberry enjoyed plenty of success in the past in these famous Mrs O'Brien silks on Mickelson's half-brothers Island Life and Pasteur. Of course Meade trained that pair too.

The Tu Va handler said of Mickelson: "I thought he was a certainty in the North (Down Royal) on St Stephens Day but he ran like a hairy goat (finished 7th behind Lord Redsgirth).

"Why he ran like that I don't know – maybe it was the ground.

"We tried something different with him today (made the running) and it worked.

"He jumped well and Paul's a brilliant rider from the front – he is such a good judge of pace.

"He always looked decent at home but he's been a bit disappointing to be honest.

"We'll see where we go now and he probably wants better ground. With that being the first race he got the best of it which was a big help." (GC & EM)