The well-backed Hard To Call ran out a very easy winner of the opener at Limerick, the Martinstown Opportunity Maiden Hurdle.

A winner of a point-to-point for Ronnie O'Leary at Horse And Jockey in March of last year, the son of Presenting finished fourth to Haymount on his racecourse debut at Gowran last month.

Available at 11/4 last night, the Gordon Elliott trained six-year-old touched 2/1 on-course before going off the clear 6/4 favourite in the colours of race sponsor JP McManus.

Settled behind the leaders by Jack Kennedy he was fourth with a circuit to race.

He got the perfect run through on the inner approaching two out and he hit the front before that flight where he made a mistake.

He stretched clear on the run to the last, going on to score easily by eleven lengths. Henry Howard (10/1) ran on to take second under Paul Townend for Willie Mullins, while Summerhill Lewis who was as short as 4/5 last night, was two lengths back in third under Jonathan Moore for Paul Nolan at 2/1.

Gordon Elliott said afterwards: "It wasn't the strongest race but he'll be a nice horse in time and I imagine he'll go chasing next season.

"He improved a good bit from his last run and the further he goes the better he'll be."

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes