Mengli Khan gets away from the final flight© Photo Healy Racing
Gordon Elliott's Mengli Khan took full advantage of Supasundae being ruled out of the extended two mile three hurdle in Kilbeggan.
It had been a long time between drinks for the seven-year-old gelding with his last success coming in a beginners' chase at Punchestown in November 2018.
The 6/4 favourite looked vulnerable after the second last in this assignment with no less than three horses moving into threatening positions.
However, he jumped the last under pressure and got away from it well along the far rail. He was kept up to his work by Luke Dempsey to see off Jaime Sommers (11/2) by a length. The West's Awake was a close third, another half a length away, at 12/1. Tigris River was another half a length back in a good race.
“It's good to get his head back in front,” said assistant trainer Ian Amond.
“He was entitled to win that race when the favourite came out. It's been a while since he won but in fairness to him he battled away there as there were two or three coming to him at the last.
“He does try, in fairness to him, but he's been running in top class races the whole time and is probably just not that class.
“That race suited him. At least he has his head back in front now and we can go somewhere else with him.”
Supasundae had traded at odds on before racing but was ruled out due to the good to yielding ground.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
