Benny's Fagartha put in a gritty performance in the opening Pudsey Maiden Hurdle at Down Royal under Eddie Power (put up a pound over at 10st 9Ib) to foil a gamble on the Arthur Moore-trained High Desert (6s into 4s).

High Desert looked likely to prevail when launching his bid from before the final flight but the front-running Benny's Fagartha refused to yield on the run-in, holding on by half a length. The pair left the eye-catching newcomer Thomas Edison three and three parts of a length back in third.

Matthieu Palussiere trains Benny's Fagartha for the What A Combination Syndicate (from Cavan and Navan) and he said: "That was her first time over hurdles but she's brave and honest and jumped super today.

"We knew we might end up having to make the running but it worked out good.

"I'm obviously delighted for the owners and coming here today we weren't worried about the ground." (EM & MG)