Sent off a well backed 2/5f, Luckinthecity had to work harder than his supporters might have expected before eventually landing those odds in the opening End Of Season Celebration September 6th Maiden Hurdle at Kilbeggan.

A bumper winner on his racecourse debut at Listowel last September, the Willie Mullins trained gelding was well beaten in a decent race at Leopardstown over Christmas.

However, the five-year-old shaped much better when third in another bumper on his reappearance at the Galway Festival earlier this month.

Always towards the fore on this first start over flights, the gelding headed long time leader Pepperpots approaching two out and kicked on entering the straight.

Strongly pressed by Garnacho after the final flight, the Paul Townend partnered favourite found enough on the run-in to prevail by three-quarters-of-a-length.

Paul Townend said: “It’s tight enough on the inside track but I was happy enough that he wasn’t going to be passed.

“He missed the fourth last which wasn’t ideal, the only hurdle he missed, but he was back on it after that.

“He was looking for company going down to the last and when I asked him he picked up. Hopefully he can improve away.”

Additional reporting by Alan Magee.