Malbas impresses in the Bellewstown finale for Hogan

“That was very nice. He's been off all summer and I was worried that he wouldn't be ready today,” admitted Denis Hogan after sending out Malbas (7/1) to win the concluding BetVictor Handicap at Bellewstown.

Hogan had a winner at Ballinrobe last night when Ozzie's Way took a beginners chase and his week got better here as he was also responsible for the third home, Machiavelli Easter Orchid (11/2 into 3/1 favourite), attempting to give Joseph and Donnacha O'Brien a treble on the card, but he had to yield to the Seamie Heffernan-ridden Malbas, by three and three parts of a length.

“He was on box rest for a few weeks during the summer and missed Killarney and Galway," further explained Hogan.

“We had good intentions for him this summer but at least he's got a win now and it looks like he's back.

“He had a lovely run in Leopardstown and the horse of Sheila's has been winning since. Everytime she won I got a text from the owners and different people saying Malbas was the best handicapped horse in my yard.

“He's shown there that he was well handicapped. I think he's entered at Down Royal over the weekend and at Roscommon Monday but we'll see, we don't have to run him.

“If he comes out of it okay we might look at something, and see what the handicapper does, but he's a lovely horse going forward.

“I only paid 2,500 pounds for him last year out of William Haggas'. I don't know what issues he had but I thought he was a grand horse for the money and I'd bring him home and put him away.

“He strengthened up and actually strengthened up again for being off injured this summer.

“I'm delighted for the owners, they are a great bunch of lads all from Kerry.

“They were in a few horses with me, Foxy Lass and then Irish Minister who wasn't lucky for them.

“This lad looks like he's going to be lucky for them. I'd say it's very possible he could go to Listowel.

“There is a mile-six race there for horses up to 70. More than likely what will happen is he'll bypass this weekend and go to Listowel.”

(GC & EM)