"He jumped well and liked the ground," said winning owner J P McManus' racing manager Frank Berry after Monarch ran out a stylish winner of the Like Us On Facebook Maiden Hurdle at Kilbeggan.

The 'green and gold,' successful trainer Joseph O'Brien, and the man aboard Monarch here, Jody McGarvey, have really been making hay of late and their representative here was expected to keep the run going.

Backed from 15/8 into 6/4 favouritism, the Galileo gelding, a useful Flat performer, brought to an end a sequence of three second placings over flights by comfortably seeing off Canny Tom by four and a half lengths.

"He had that bit of experience against maidens and that makes a big difference. We'll find a little handicap for him," elaborated Berry.

(GC & EM)