Monbeg Park asserted in the closing stages to make a winning return to chasing in the beginners event at Wexford this afternoon.

The Sean Doyle-trained gelding had three runs in strong events over fences during the winter and had more recently finished fifth in a handicap hurdle at Roscommon last month.

JJ Slevin tracked the leaders on the 11/4 shot before asking him to challenge turning for home in the two-mile-three contest.

The Walk In The Park gelding was slightly untidy at the second last but was big and bold over the final fence as he overhauled front-runner Caesar Rock on the run-in to record a length-and-three-quarter success.

Doyle said:- "We had a fierce frustrating time with him last season. He had a really good run in Thurles but got a fright at Leopardstown and it took him a while to come back around.

“He is made for fences, he jumped very well today and JJ was always happy with him. I still think there is a big race in him, so we won't over race him. It's grand to get his head back in front and it's great to have a winner at the local track.

"We were just throwing everything at it today and I'd say the cheekpieces probably helped him to get his confidence back and he tuned in well. I think he won a bit snug so we are very happy with him and it wasn't a bad beginners for the time of year.

"He could go for a rated novice back here in a fortnight and if he qualifies for that we will let him run. The ground wouldn't want to be any quicker than it is today though. There is a novice handicap at Cheltenham in November and we will work back from that."

(Quotes by Donal Murphy)