Bryan Cooper made a welcome return to the winners enclosure when Captain Arceus ran out an easy winner of the City Publicans Charity Hurdle at Galway.

The rider only returned to action last Friday following a four-month absence due to a broken leg suffered at Down Royal in May.

The win was also a fillip for trainer Dessie Hughes, who is currently recovering from recent surgery.

The winner was held up in the early stages, of the two-and-a-half mile contest, by Cooper before taking closer order on the run to the second last.

The 13/8 favourite hit the front jumping the penultimate flight and was sent clear entering the straight.

Cooper could afford to ease down on the run to the line for a three-and-a-quarter length win over Now This Is It

Captain Arceus had been nabbed close home at Bellewstown on his last start when making his first start since scoring at the Fairyhouse Easter festival.

“The pressure is off now,” said Cooper.

“He was half off the bridle early on as they went a proper gallop. Coming down the hill he really locked on to it and I probably got there a bit sooner than I wanted to.

“He loves that ground. He's going chasing now and will be a nice chasing prospect.”

Hughes was reported to be recuperating well after surgery last Wednesday.

(Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes)