MR Adjudicator maintained his unbeaten record over timber in the Tattersalls Ireland Spring Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown.

Stepped up to Grade 1 company after winning at the Christmas meeting at this track, Paul Townend was content to sit off the pace.

The outsider Tenth Amendment set only a steady tempo and that was to the detriment of the 4/5 favourite Espoir D'Allen, who raced very keenly in the hands of Barry Geraghty.

Farclas, behind Espoir D'Allen on his hurdling debut, loomed up turning in but Townend was still happy to bide his time until asking for everything after the last.

The 3/1 chance, trained by Willie Mullins, pulled a length and a quarter clear and is now available at around the 8/1 mark for the Triumph Hurdle at next month's Cheltenham Festival.

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