So Scottish clears the last under Donagh Meyler© Photo Healy Racing
So Scottish ran out an easy winner of the opener at Kilbeggan, the Sean Hughes Memorial Maiden Hurdle.
Heavily-backed when a beaten odds-on favourite on his most recent start at Tramore, the Emmet Mullins trained gelding was again well-supported this evening.
Available at 11/4 in early shows, the Martaline five-year-old, who won a point-to-point last December, eventually went off the 6/4 favourite under Donagh Meyler.
Settled behind the leaders in fourth, the bay victor was pushed along from two out and soon made rapid progress to lead.
He stretched clear before the final flight and came home nine lengths to the good, racing for the first time in the colours of Alan and Conor Hughes. Pats Choice filled the runner-up spot under Davy Russell for Gordon Elliott at 11/4, while Rodney Bay (15/2) was another two-and-a-quarter lengths back in third.
"That was good. Donagh said he was very uncomplicated and he's finally getting his act together," Mullins said.
"For a point-to-pointer coming back to two miles might have been a bit of a worry but he showed a bit of pace there to take the gap when he got it and put the race to bed.
"We've had him entered in one or two rated beginners chases and if he's still in the right bracket we might go for that, he's a brilliant jumper.
"We're just trying to maximise what we can get out of him. He's a point-to-point winner in the past and if there was one of those rated beginners chases that might be somewhere he could get his head in front again."
Winning owner Alan Hughes added: "My father Sean passed away in 2003. He was a big horse racing fan and to win the race named after him is extra special.
His brother Conor went on to say: "Paul Byrne is a friend of Alan. He saw this race and said he would lease the horse over to us for the day. It's great to get it."
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
