Jezki (left) is pushed out by Tony McCoy to beat Caid Du Berlais and Flaxen Flare (blinkers) © Photo Healy Racing
Jezki returned to action with a win as he took the Grade 2 WKD Hurdle, providing Tony McCoy with 3992 career winners.
The Jessica Harrington (quick double for her after the win of Gambling Girl thirty minutes earlier) trained five-year-old son of Milan won all but one of his six starts over hurdles last season, and he was last seen winning the Grade 1 Herald Champion Novice Hurdle in convincing fashion at the Punchestown Festival.
Sent off the 2/9 favourite (from an opening show of 2/7), the JP McManus owned gelding was a reluctant leader and he set a very slow pace in the early stages.
He gradually upped tempo as the race progressed, and he was joined at the second last by Flaxen Flare
He was nudged along before the final flight, and he kept up to his task well on the run-in, scoring in convincing fashion by three and a quarter lengths.
Caid Du Berlais ran a fine race to finish second under Ruby Walsh for Paul Nicholls at 7/1, while Flaxen Flare was a further two and a quarter lengths back in third.
Jessica Harrington said afterwards: "I'm absolutely delighted to get that out of the way. He did everything he was supposed to do.
"There was no pace so he had to do his own donkey work and he did it without much effort.
"It was an absolute sprint down to the last two and he answered every call. He has grown up and he settled very well.
"I told Tony to ride him as it comes and rode him out with hands and heels.
"It was his first run of the year and he is bound to improve. The Morgiana is definitely an option because he is going to need a bit of practice if he is going to take on Hurricane Fly and Our Conor."
Tony McCoy added: "He was a very good novice and he is a very smart horse. It is a nice to have a horse to have plans with.
"It was a good start in a muddling race, I was always happy with him.
"I hadn’t been here for five years. It’s good to get a winner anytime but it is great to win here again."
Paddy Power now go 7/1, from 6s, about Jezki for the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham in March.
Additional reporting by Michael Graham
