Riviere looks classy on Irish debut

Riviere D'etel made an impressive debut for Gordon Elliott when running out a facile winner of the juvenile maiden hurdle at Punchestown.

The daughter of Martaline was second in a Listed hurdle at Auteuil in September and was making her first outing in the colours of Noel and Valerie Moran today.

Jack Kennedy settled behind the leaders in the two-miler before letting his mount stride into the lead at the flight away from the stands.

The 8/15 favourite asserted after the penultimate hurdle and didn't need to come out of third gear to post a comprehensive 12 length success over Coventry

Kennedy said:- “She can be a little bit keen but she was nice and relaxed today. I felt her starting to run with me a bit and rather than fight with her I let her off.

“She’s a big galloper and she stayed galloping all the way to the line and did it well.

“She’s going to have to step up in class now but she couldn’t have done any more today.”

Betfair introduced the winner at 20/1 for the Mares Novice Hurdle at Cheltenham.