After finishing a highly encouraging second on his debut over flights at Clonmel, Chris's Dream went one place better in the opener at Limerick this afternoon, the Book Online At www.limerickraces.ie Maiden Hurdle.

The Eugene O'Sullivan trained five-year-old won a point-to-point at Boulta in December of last year, and was returned at 50/1 when second at Powerstown Park last month.

The son of Mahler went off at just 7/2 this afternoon (touched 4s on-course), and he was settled in second by Mark Walsh.

He was pushed along to lead on the approach to two out, and kept on well under pressure from before the last, going on to score comfortably by four and three parts of a length. Judgement Day who was sent off the 5/4 favourite, had to settle for second under Davy Russell for Henry De Bromhead, while Great Khan (12s to 10s on-course) was another two lengths back in third for Edward O'Grady and David Mullins.

O'Sullivan said afterwards: "He was a very, very talented horse from the start and we shouldn't have ran him in the Landrover Bumper because he was raw at that time, but the lads (the Crooked Crew Syndicate) wanted a runner at Punchestown.

"He was nearly sold after winning his point-to-point but failed the vet due to his wind but we got his wind done and is flying ever since.

"Patrick Mullins told us in Thurles to forget about bumpers as he'd be a right good horse without being in a bumper and is a three mile chaser out-and-out and is a very promising horse.

"We won't be too hard on him this year but he'll run next in the Dorans Pride Novice Hurdle back here at Christmas."

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes