Mr Showtime readily opened his account over hurdles in the opening maiden at Limerick.

Having won his bumper in Roscommon just under two weeks ago, he was popular in morning trading as he contracted to 6/4 from 3/1. However, at the track he was easier to back from 2/1 out to 5/2.

He led the well backed 11/10 favourite, Go Another One throughout but once he cleared the second last he asserted for Sean Flanagan and was clear at the final hurdle.

The five-year-old strode home to put four and a half lengths on Go Another One. Knockmaole Boy fell at the second last when third. It was left to Valgor Du Ronceray to complete the placings at 9/1 from 12s. He was beaten six lengths by the winner.

Trainer Noel Meade said: "He is a totally different horse on that ground - it's quite incredible the difference it has made to him. It's funny, when he was going out on the track on fast ground in his bumper at Roscommon he nearly gave a buck and a squeal when he got out on it and lit up on it.

"He jumped brilliantly and will give us a bit of fun during the summer. The reason I dropped him back in trip, from his bumper win, was he would be running here with a winners' penalty so I had to come here.

"He'll probably go for a winners' race but he jumps so well, you wouldn't be afraid to put him in a handicap either. He has plenty of boot and is from the same family of Denman."

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes