Long odds-on favourite Fine Article landed the spoils in the two mile six maiden hurdle at Limerick with the minimum of fuss for Paul Nolan and Mikey Fogarty.

Sent off at 1/5 he travelled strongly to hit the lead before the second last. Despite an untidy jump at that obstacle, he quickened away before the last and had two-and-a-half-lengths in hand over staying on The Horsechesnut (8/1).

Trainer Paul Nolan said: "That was nice, but it is what it is. I was disappointed with his first two runs over hurdles. He just doesn'€™t look a natural hurdler, but he jumped immaculately today albeit a bit sloppy over the last two.

"We'€™ll run him again in a Grade 2 or Grade 3 and see what happens. Going that bit slower helped him pop them. All of his family are soft-ground horses.

"He should reach a higher standard over fences. He'€™ll go chasing next season."

Fine Article was fourth to Shaneshill in the Grade 1 bumper at Punchestown in April this year.

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes