No Malone Road, but Elliott wins anyway with Uncle Henry

In the absence of Malone Road for whom the ground was deemed too quick, that one’s handler Gordon Elliott had the winner of the Broderick’s Electrical Maiden Hurdle in the form of Uncle Henry

This one drifted right out to an S.P. of 17/2 from a first show of 4/1 as Kendancer (5/4 fav) was the one for money during the day.

The winner, with Keith Donoghue on board, jumped well close to the pace whereas the market leader skied a few and had to make up ground again on landing.

Uncle Henry got to the front before the last and turned in with a healthy advantage, but he needed the line on this return from a long absence and just held on for a head victory from the favourite, with Dedanann back in third.

Uncle Henry was a winner at Dundalk and placed a couple of times over hurdles for Joseph O’Brien in 2018 but hadn’t run since December of that year (had leg trouble) and was making a winning debut for his new trainer.

The winning rider remarked: “He just blew up close home. That’s the type of ground he wants."

Ian 'Busty' Amond representing winning trainer Gordon Elliott said: “That’s our first winner for the owner (Kieron Gammell) and it’s the first horse he’s had with us.

“He’s been off the track a long time and he was a bit gassy during the race but he held on well.

“Hopefully he stays right now — he’s had his few little problems — and there could be a few more days in him.”

Additional reporting by Eamonn Murphy