Zefania stayed on stoutly to open her account over jumps in the mares maiden hurdle at Kilbeggan this afternoon.

The John McConnell-trained mare went to post 15/8 favourite in the two-mile-three contest and was driven into the lead before the final flight.

33/1 shot Lady Nightingale came to press her over the last but the daughter of Maxios found plenty for Alex Harvey to record a two-length success.

The winner had run with promise, on her return from a long absence, when fourth at Tramore last month.

Harvey said:- “It took her a very long time to warm up into things. I was getting in under my hurdles and after a mile I was able to switch her out and she warmed into it then.

“We went a good gallop but she’s a mare that has competed in Group company as a three-year-old, so I wanted to make plenty of use of her class and I knew she stayed.

“I rode her in Tramore over two miles on good ground and I thought all she wanted was further.

“She’ll be an exciting mare and she goes with a bit of an ease and can train on into the autumn/winter time.”

(Quotes by Alan Magee)