The Tony Martin trained Dedigout bounced back to form with a first win for 14 months when narrowing winning the Grade 2 John Mulhern Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran today, for owner Michael O'Leary (Gigginstown House Stud) and his retained rider Bryan Cooper.

The Grade 1 winning novice hurdler has shown moments of brilliance in his career but, prior to returning to action over Christmas, had been absent for over a year and had last been successful in November 2013.

Today he showed the benefit of his recent outing and while he looked booked for second spot with a slow jump at the final flight, rallied gamely on the run-in to short-head Monksland close home.

Afterwards Martin stated "he cracked a knee at Fairyhouse in the Hatton's Grace (2013) and was out for a year. He ran well at Christmas, and that brought him on enough and he was able to do himself justice today.

"He'll get an easy week after this and we'll see how he is in a fortnight's time and take it from there. He'd only run at Cheltenham if the ground was soft."

Regarding the frailty of Dedigout and another high class stablemate, Martin added "he's a bit like Bog Warrior: they are stuck together with sellotape!"

Boylesports later cut Dedigout to 20/1 (from 50s) for the World Hurdle, while leaving Monksland unchanged at 12/1 for the same race.

By Tom Weekes, quotes from Alan Magee