Bleu Et Rouge got off the mark on his Irish debut as he took the opener at Cork, the www.racinghomeforeaster.com Maiden Hurdle.

Second on his two starts in his native France, the son of Charming Groom was sent off the 8/15 favourite today under Paul Townend for Willie Mullins and owner JP McManus.

Settled in second he took closer order from the third last and came through to lead before the final flight, keeping on well on the run-in to score by two lengths.

The front-running Madfuninthewest (8's to 6's on-course) ran a fine race to finish second under Phillip Enright for Robert Tyner, while Bel Ami De Sivola (10/1) completed the placings a further twenty-lengths back in third under Sean Flanagan for Noel Meade.

Paul Townend said afterwards: "He's a lovely horse and will come on a lot from that fitness and experience wise.

"He gave me the feel of a nice horse for the future.

"The plan was to keep it simple and Phillip (Enright, rider of Madfuninthewest) went a nice gallop in front. It's dead ground and hard work."

Additional reporting by Alan Magee