Point-to-point and bumper winner Make Your Mark made a hugely impressive start to his career over timber in the Madigans Maiden Hurdle at Leopardstown.
The 4-5 favourite had won by 11 lengths at Punchestown last month and Davy Russell was keen to keep close to the pace on this sounder surface.
Hurdling fluently, the Willie Mullins-trained four-year-old was sent to the front heading down the back straight and his opponents were toiling from the home turn. Russell gave his mount his head in the straight and readily pulled clear to beat main market rival Competitive Edge by 10 lengths.
Mullins said: "Davy was very pleased with him. I told him not to worry if there was no pace as he could make his own way home. He'll go the novice hurdle route. We were afraid earlier in the season that he would be too keen but he does seem to settle in his races.
"He'll move up the pecking order after that. He doesn't do anything flashy at home but when you ask him a question he answers it. I thought he might be more of a stayer, but he shows more class than I thought."
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