Doctor Duffy and Philip Enright© Photo Healy Racing
Doctor Duffy (5/4 into 9/10) took over at the last to take the BetVictor Maiden Hurdle at Killarney for Charles Byrnes and Philip Enright.
On his first outing over flights and on his comeback run off a 204 day break, Doctor Duffy was the one for money as Abyssinian (5/2 out to 7/2) drifted.
Connections of the big two will take something away for the future but on this occasion three and three parts of a length split them with Doctor Duffy convincingly best.
"It was a nice return and his bumper form was fairly solid. On the whole he jumped fairly well and he'll be kept going now over the summer, we'll see where it takes him," said Byrnes.
"After he won his bumper we left him off and said we'd keep him a novice for this year and it has worked out.
"In time he could go three miles but he's not slow either and anything from 2m2f up would suit. He is a nice horse and hopefully he will run in the Galway festival."
P. Merrigan, rider of Chasing Abbey trained by Paul W. Flynn, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his saddle slipped.
(TW & EM)
