Knockmaole Boy got off the mark on his sixth start over hurdles, as he took the French Village Maiden Hurdle under Davy Russell for Gordon Elliott.

A dual winner on the level for Jim Culloty last summer, the five-year-old son of Echo Of Light was bought by Elliott and Ollie Murphy for 6,500 sterling at Tattersalls in December.

Second on three of his five previous efforts over flights, the chestnut gelding was sent off at 9/2 in the colours of the Twenty Times Two Syndicate.

Settled behind the leaders, he went in pursuit of the front-running Fort Montagu from before two out, and hit the front as they jumped that flight.

He soon came under pressure, and was pressed on the run-in by Mountain Rock but battled on gamely to prevail by three parts of a length.

The well-backed runner-up, who was as big as 10/1 last night, was returned the 15/8 favourite under Jamie Codd for Adrian Keatley.

The front two were two and a quarter lengths clear of the third, and that was Canny Tom (6s to 5s) who is also trained by Elliott.

The aforementioned Fort Montagu faded tamely once headed, and finished a disappointing fourth at 11/4.

Assistant trainer Ian Amond said afterwards: "We thought he might have even won one before today, he had a few good runs earlier on in the year. He was a bit unlucky. His runs were good and he was probably entitled to win.

"He'll probably keep him going for the summer and try and get another one or two with him.

"It's good for those syndicates, the same as the racing clubs. It keeps the small lads happy."

STEWARDS REPORT

M.A. Enright, rider of Fort Montagu (FR) trained by John W. Nicholson, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount made a noise between the fourth and the third last hurdle, and that he gurgled quite badly.

Additional reporting by Michael Graham