Moonlight Boy showed the benefit of a couple of placed outings over hurdles last month by justifying favouritism in the Keywest Play Live 20th June Maiden Hurdle.

The 4/5 market leader headed long-time leader Kemboy early in the straight and was almost immediately strongly pressed by Tawseef

The pair were in the air together at the last but Alan Crowe’s mount jumped it slightly the better and pulled out that bit more on the run-in to score by three quarters of a length. Vole Au Vent was a further three and a quarter lengths away in third.

Moonlight Boy impressed when taking a point-to-point and a bumper for Aidan Kennedy last year before being snapped up by present connections, although rather blotted his copybook by jumping badly right and eventually running out at Naas earlier this year.

Winning owner J P McManus’ racing manager Frank Berry said, “It was nice to get that out of the way as he’s been knocking on the door. I thought we were in trouble coming down to the last.

“He’ll go novice chasing next season and could have another run over hurdles if it stays soft. He probably has to go right-handed.”

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes