Smart bumper performer, ex-point-to-pointer It's For Me won on hurdling debut today, defying racing keenly to land Punchestown's Ladbrokes Play '1-2-Free' Maiden Hurdle for jockey Paul Townend and trainer Willie Mullins.

The French-bred finished fifth in both the Cheltenham and Punchestown Champion Bumpers last season and today, the heavily-supported 8/13 favourite, pulled hard virtually throughout and won snugly by a length and a half from Caldwell Potter

Townend said “he was very keen the whole way around. He showed it in his bumpers as well and he wore a hood today. Maybe a stronger pace will help him to settle but when he got a bit of light he just ran with me. He has a huge engine to run away that far from home.

“He had a blow down the straight and picked up again so the engine is definitely there, but we’ll have to calm it a small bit. I was never going to get beaten and had the luxury of popping the last.

“He hit the line well and is another exciting one for these silks (Munir & Souede).

Quotes from Alan Magee