Mengli Khan© Photo Healy Racing
Last season's Supreme Novices Hurdle-third Mengli Khan made a winning chase debut at Punchestown today as the Gordon Elliott trained, Gigginstown House Stud owned gelding landed the Download The Betdaq App Beginners Chase under Champion Jockey Davy Russell.
The son of Lope De Vega finished last term by filling third place in both Cheltenham's and Punchestown's Grade 1 two miles novice hurdles and today returned in fine fettle.
An untidy jump at the first was his only error and in the end he stretched clear of his rivals before the home straight, when scoring a ten lengths success over Forge Meadows.
Elliott later stated “I thought it was a good performance. When he had something to aim at he winged fences. Davy said they just weren’t going quick enough down the back and he let him stride on. He jumped the fourth last and third last very well, and he went to pop the last two which he’ll probably learn from.
“It’s hard to believe he ran on the Flat as a two-year-old but he looks to be a chaser with the big bone of him. He took to that well.
“I’d say he’ll go straight to Leopardstown now. The scope he showed is what really impressed me.”
Quotes from Alan Magee
