Monksland eases to Slaney success Dedigout (11/10fav) and Lyreen Legend (15/8) dominated the betting for the feature race at Naas this afternoon, the Grade 2 Slaney Novice Hurdle, but come the finish they were battling it out for second as Monksland ran out a convincing winner under Paul Carberry at the odds of 6/1. Having ran out on his first start in a point-to-point at Ballysteen in May of this year when trained by Andrew Slattery, he was then sold for £80,000 at the Cheltenham Brightwells Sales later that month. On his first start for his current connections (trainer Noel Meade & owner Patricia Hunt) he easily won a bumper at Down Royal in November and followed up in a maiden hurdle at Navan in early December. Dedigout under Davy Russell for Tony Martin led as they approached the second last but Monksland under a patient Paul Carberry ride came through between the final two flights and hit the front just before the last going on to score by four and a half lengths. Lyreen Legend under Bryan Cooper for Dessie Hughes got the better of the Dedigout by half a length in the battle for second, while Owega Star ran well to finish a further length and three parts back in fourth. Winning trainer Noel Meade said afterwards: "That went exactly to plan. I thought he'd win to be honest as he is very good. "He was involved in a serious piece of work at Fairyhouse where he finished second to Bog Warrior and I think he had a bit up his sleeve. "He has done everything right since and jumps well. He is good enough for Cheltenham and he will go there for the two and a half mile hurdle (Neptune Investment Novices' Hurdle). "I'm not sure whether he will run before that as he is easy to get fit. "He worked well on Tuesday morning on soft ground and showed plenty of boot today and should handle better ground. "He had earplugs in as he used to be very nervous but he has relaxed and never turned a hair today." Ladbrokes have introduced the winner at 16/1 for the Neptune Investment Novices' Hurdle.
