The Gordon Elliott-trained Favori De Champdou was made to work hard to land the odds in the Hugh McMahon Memorial Novice Chase at Limerick this evening.

The 8/13 favourite made most of the running in the three-miler with Bella Bliss for company.

The latter looked to be travelling best as the favourite came off the bridle going to the second last fence.

It turned into a three-way battle before the final fence as Donacheady Gale challenged between the pair.

Jack Kennedy had to get serious with the hotpot to grab a narrow advantage on the run-in and the Gigginstown gelding was all out to score by a neck from Donacheady Gale at the line.

Kennedy said afterwards:- "He got a fall in the Irish National and jumped a bit carefully today. He was very careful and I wasn't able to go as quick as I would have liked on him but he got it done.

"It turned into a sprint down to the second last but he was going to outstay them."

(Quotes by Tom Weekes)