Darkened recorded his second course and distance win when staying on strongly to land the Axa Smart Farm Insurance Midlands National Day Friday 8th July Handicap Hurdle at Kilbeggan.

Denis Hogan 's gelding had only one previous win over hurdles to his name, that coming at this venue last August. Successful on the flat at Tipperary in April, he came here in good form and having taken up the running 2 out he kept on strongly. Run Like Fada who was sent off favourite emerged from the chasing pack but was never in with any chance of catching the easy winner.

JJ Slevin said, “I got a nice position going around. He went on travelling sweet and nothing was able to lay down a challenge to him.

“There wasn’t as much pace as I thought there would be and I was happy to be handier than planned.”

Additional reporting by Alan Magee