The Willie Mullins-trained Lamarckise was made to work hard to make a winning Irish debut at Limerick this afternoon.

The French import holds several entries at Cheltenham and is prominent in the betting for the Mares Novice Hurdle.

She was sent to post a 2/5 shot on her first outing for the champion trainer today having been third on her sole outing at Auteuil back in April 2018.

The five-year-old had been due to run in Grade 1 company at Leopardstown last February but was taken out due to the ground.

Paul Townend tracked the leaders on his mount today before taking closer order from the third last in the two-mile-five contest.

He swung wide to challenge entering the straight but the daughter of Martaline had to get down to work to get the better of Miss Pernickety going to the final flight.

She survived an untidy leap there to go on and record a half length win.

Townend subsequently dismounted and unsaddled the winner on the walk back into the enclosure and Mullins said:-

"Paul said she was just exhausted, that was it.

“He said she blew up two or three times and her class got her through. If I can keep her right, I think she is a very good mare and she'll go straight for the Mares' Novice Hurdle at Cheltenham now.

"I'll have to get her a bit fitter than that though.

"She is a fantastic jumper but I've just had training problems with her. I treated her very very gently and hoped and crossed my fingers that we had enough done today."

(Quotes by Tom Weekes)