Willie Mullins warmed up for the Cheltenham Festival in the best possible fashion when sending out Miss Me Now to make a successful jumping debut in the Best Price Guaranteed On All Irish Racing At Coral.ie Mares Maiden Hurdle at Limerick.

The daughter of Presenting landed a Sligo bumper last August, and was sent off the 2/1 favourite in this two-mile event.

A mistake at the penultimate flight when starting to get into contention appeared to have scuppered her chances but she found plenty to strike the front at the last.

Paul Townend ’s mount stayed on strongly to draw clear on the run-in for an eight lengths success.

The front-running West Bridge took the runner-up spot, with Let Her Cry staying on nicely another length and a quarter back in third.

Townend said, "Her jumping was just novicey and she also wants nicer ground. It was hard work jumping out of that ground and they went plenty quick enough on testing ground. She's tough and should give her owners plenty of fun during the summer."

Brian Cuthbert and James Fenton head the Blue Blood Racing Club and Fenton said, "It is a Garda-club with 60 shareholders and we came after Cheltenham last year. This mare was our first winner at Sligo and we have one other unraced horse with Willie (Mullins) also.

"I buried my uncle Clement Fenton during the week and would like to dedicate this win to him."

(TW & AM)