Connections of Ainsi Va La Vie were thrilled to see their patience rewarded with a hugely impressive performance at Limerick on Sunday.
The Willie Mullins-trained mare is bred for the job as a half-sister to Grade One-winning hurdler Sous Les Cieux and was snapped up by the Supreme Horse Racing Club as a three-year-old.
It has been a long road since, however, with the daughter of Lavirco suffering a series of setbacks before eventually making her competitive debut at the age of seven over the weekend.
Steve Massey, racing manager for the owners, said: "We originally bought her three and a half years ago, so it's been a long wait.
"Willie always felt she had plenty of ability and was adamant that we should persevere with her.
"She's been within a week of running two or three times, only to suffer another setback late in the day.
"She's never had anything majorly wrong, it's always been minor things that have held her up.
"Fingers crossed we can get a good run with her now."
Ainsi Va La Vie looks intent on making up for lost time judged on her 10-length romp in the hands of the trainer's son, Patrick.
She is already quoted at 20-1 by bet365 for the mares' novices' hurdle at next year's Cheltenham Festival, but Massey is not getting carried away.
"We don't want to look too far ahead as she's obviously fragile," he said.
"If we can keep her sound, the plan is for her to go for a winners' bumper next before going hurdling.
"We don't think she'll have any problem with softer ground and the plan is to keep her going now right through the season."
