Leggy Lad was sufficiently impressive at Sligo 38 days ago to warrant a rating of 114 for his handicap chase debut in the Rainbow Telecom Handicap Chase at Down Royal and he defied that mark with his owner Michael McConville in the saddle.

That Sligo triumph was McConville's first winner on the racecourse and here he got the successful chestnut son of Denel to the front two out when Knocklayde Euro departed. Nine to one this morning into 6/1, Leggy Lad kept on well from before the last to beat Linnel by nine lengths.

Michael's father Stephen trains Leggy Lad at Portadown and he said: "He had time off since Sligo. We brought him back fresh and we were expecting a good run today.

"We were a bit concerned about the big weight and the heavy ground though.

"We have four in training, three for point-to-points and this one.

"He'll have a bit of time off now. He might come back at Christmas for a novice chase." (EM & MG)