Vision D'Honneur looks to have a bright future after he scooted clear to win the Sportinglife.com Maiden Hurdle at Punchestown.
Winner of his only start on the Flat in France, he arrived in Ireland with a tall reputation and was sent off favourite to make a winning hurdling debut at Leopardstown over Christmas.
Gordon Elliott's charge could only finish fourth there behind Klassical Dream, but he made no mistake on this occasion. Jack Kennedy had him handy throughout and the 5-4 favourite sprinted clear of Willie Mullins' Elixir D'Ainay to win by four and a half lengths.
"He's a nice horse. We think a lot of him, we think he's a very smart horse," said Elliott. "In Leopardstown he didn't do anything wrong, only got beat. He was just green and jumped big. It might have been a blessing in disguise that he got beat that day.
"Jack came in and said he was still green and said he's going to come on a lot from the run today. He's a horse that does everything very easy at home, so he'll be OK hopefully.
"He'll probably go to Leopardstown (Dublin Festival) now for something and he's a horse that could step out in trip as well, he's not just a two-miler, because he's so relaxed and has a great attitude."
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