The Gordon Elliott-trained De Plotting Shed ran out an impressive winner on his return to action in the At The Races Hurdle at Navan.

Keith Donoghue came in for the ride on the 15/8 joint-favourite after Davy Russell, who had himself replaced Jack Kennedy, was stood down in the previous race having sprained an ankle in a fall.

Donoghue held his mount up in the two-mile six-furlong before he travelled well to challenge front-runner Moylisha Tim two from home.

The Beneficial gelding hit the front going to the last and only had to be shaken up briefly on the run-in to assert for an easy eight-and-a-half length success. The other market leader Red Giant was four lengths back in third.

De Plotting Shed was making his first start since finishing mid-division in a competitive handicap hurdle at Punchestown.

"He was a nice hurdler last year and just flattened out a bit near the end of the season,” said Elliott.

“He's improved for a summer break. I'm not sure if he'll go chasing just yet or we might wait.

"The owners (Ives Ashley Vasey Partnership) are from Brighton and have a couple of horses with us."

(Quotes by Alan Magee)