Battleford provided his trainer Willie Mullins with a treble on the day (won the opening two races at Limerick), and his twentieth win of the Festive period, as he took the Guinness Maiden Hurdle under Ruby Walsh.

Second at Cheltenham and Aintree Festivals, the son of Midnight Legend was a disappointing fourth on his debut over flights at Navan last month.

He was widely expected to atone for that lost today, and he went off the clear 4/9 favourite in the colours of Andrea and Graham Wylie.

Sent straight the front by Walsh he made all. He made a mistake at the fifth, and was far from fluent three out.

He was pressed by Coeur Joyeux after the next, and needed to be ridden out on the run-in to see off that rival by two lengths.

Coeur Joyeux was returned at 7/1 under Barry Geraghty for Sandra Hughes, while New To This Town was a further nine and a half lengths back in third under Robbie Power for Jessica Harrington at 9/2.

Ruby Walsh said afterwards: "He probably could improve a bit with his jumping. He didn't jump as well as he has schooled at home.

"He's a tough horse who will like a trip and he'll move up in grade I'd imagine now."

Battleford remains unchanged at 25/1 with Paddy Power for the Neptune Investments Novices Hurdle, and the Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle.

Additional reporting by Gary Carson