The 4/5 favourite Gauloises impressed when taking the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares’ Maiden Hurdle on her first start over obstacles.

Settling nicely behind the leaders, the daughter of Samum was on terms two out and then displayed a nice change of gear to go clear on the run to the final flight.

She came home five and a half lengths ahead of market rival Global Equity (6/4), with Mar Dhea running a good race in third at 125/1.

It looks like Honeysuckle’s owner, Kenny Alexander, has another talented mare to add to his collection.

A winner over 1m4f in a French bumper last year, Gauloises was completing doubles for Paul Townend and winning trainer Willie Mullins who commented: “She has been in good form at home but I was taken by way she quickened after the second last and put it to bed.

"That looks like she might make into a decent filly if she keeps improving. She was very slick over the last.

"At the moment I'm hoping there is improvement in our horses but what I loved was the turn of foot she had there: it means she might make it up into another grade."

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes