Malone Road and Keith Donoghue jumping the last© Photo Healy Racing
Malone Road finally made his eagerly awaited debut over hurdles following a lengthy absence and readily justified odds of 1/5 in division two of the Hurley Family Maiden Hurdle at Kilbeggan.
The Kalanisi gelding looked out of the top drawer when successful on all three previous starts in 2018 taking a point-to-point and both bumpers at Down Royal and Punchestown.
However, the Cheveley Park Stud-owned six-year-old has been plagued by injury since and connections decided to get him started over hurdles here after declining an opportunity at Ballinrobe last week due to drying ground.
The recent unsettled weather left the going soft and Gordon Elliott’s charge made virtually all the running in this two miles event.
Those who traded at very short odds had no worries as he kept on well in the straight under Keith Donoghue to beat Broomfields Jeremy by nine and a half lengths.
Dedanann was a further 14 lengths adrift in third.
Elliott said, “He was a bit rusty but it’s good to have him back. He hadn’t any fast work done and was half sleepy going around there.
“It probably wasn’t the ideal track for him but we have to start somewhere.
“He had two knee injuries and hopefully he’ll be ok in the morning after that. It’s baby steps and we might look at something in Listowel for him.”
