Minella Humour (6/1 this morning into 4/1 at the off) for his trainer John Nallen with Davy Russell aboard, scored on his first attempt over hurdles in the last race at Roscommon this evening, the Follow Roscommon On Facebook Maiden Hurdle.

Having scored over two and a half miles in a bumper at Gowran on his penultimate start he since disappointed in a winners bumper at Galway last time out over two miles.

Stepping back up to a mile and a half today, the 6yo son of King's Theatre, showed his liking for that trip as he made headway into third approaching three out, before disputing the lead at the second last, moving into the lead at the last and staying on well from there to score by five and a half lengths at the line. Dowd's Angle at 13/2 finished in the runner-up spot for his trainer Shane Ryder while It's Ironic finished a further half a length back in third at 8/1. Par Five who was sent off the 11/8 favourite finished a disappointing fourth under Niall Madden, eleven lengths behind the third.

Winning trainer John Nallen said afterwards: "He is a nice horse and stays well, he might go for a winners race next. We were a bit afraid of the ground before the race. He is a well bred horse."

Donal Murphy