Corps Des Pages showed the benefit of his debut run when narrowly justifying favouritism in the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF (C & G) Maiden at Limerick.

The son of Frankel was third to O’reilly at Leopardstown earlier this month and was sent off the 6/4 favourite here to open his account.

The Paddy Twomey-trained colt was ridden to head the front-running Lunar Space a furlong out, and needed a strong drive from Billy Lee to just hold off that rallying rival by a short-head.

The pair pulled three and a half lengths clear of Handel who could only keep on at one pace into third.

Twomey said, "I ran him over a mile the first day and was dropping in trip today, and being by Frankel, seven (furlongs) is probably his minimum.

"I thought he had a nice first run and it is great to come here today and build on that and win. Billy (Lee) says it is good ground, and good to firm in spots, and I think he is happy on that ground.

"The plan was to win a maiden and progress and he looks a very progressive horse.

"Mr Stewart his owner, bred him and we'll have a think about it and see where we go. I hadn't thought past today."

(TW & AM)