Smart staying hurdler Snow Falcon made a successful return to action when running out a convincing winner of the Budweiser Hurdle at Roscommon this evening.

The Noel Meade-trained gelding was sent off the 7/4 favourite for the three-mile contest as he made his first start since February.

Sean Flanagan produced his mount to lead at the second last and he kept on strongly in the closing stages to record a five-and-a-half length victory over Sadler's Risk Simenon proved a disappointment, trailing in last of the four runners.

“I was a bit worried, to be honest, that he might not be fit enough and he probably did need it a bit. Sean said he gave a nice blow turning in,” said Meade.

“Simenon ran a bit of a downer.

"If he jumped a little bit better it would be a big help. He misses the odd one and tends to leave his hind legs in them.

“He's a fair horse, just the same, over that trip. I had intended running him on the Flat but when it looked like this race would cut up I decided to have a go.

“I think that probably his next run will be on the Flat. There is a Flat maiden at Navan over two miles we could have a cut at. We could also look at Listowel but the 1m6f race might be a bit too short.”