Figaroc picked off Trust Me Nate after the last to win the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden Hurdle in Clonmel for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend.

Trust Me Nate, the 5/2 favourite led throughout for Jordan Gainford and the pair were soon well clear. They had a reduced advantage before halfway, but were still boxing on rounding the home bend.

Figaroc moved into a threatening position between the final two flights and took full advantage when Trust Me Nate was less than fluent at the last.

Figaroc grabbed him on the run-in and went on by a length at the line. Battle It Out was popular in the betting market (5/1 - 3/1) and kept on three parts of a length off the runner-up in third.

This was a marked improvement on Figaroc's previous two Irish outings.

Afterwards, Townend said: "He has taken his time to come right and has improved with a couple of runs - fitness-wise as much as everything. I don't think the track really suited as he is a big unit and is maturing the whole time.

"He is a brilliant jumper and, riding him over hurdles, you feel like you'd like to go down to a fence on him. It was a messy race and it was nice to get a win out of him. He can keep improving away and I think he has more filling out to do."

Figaroc had one race in his native France and filled the runner-up berth in a conditions hurdle back in May 2019.

Additional reporting by Tom Weekes