Aime Desjy and Paul Townend win the Kilbeggan Maiden Hurdle © Photo Healy Racing
The Willie Mullins trained Aime Desjy proved far too strong for the opposition when easily justifying his short odds in the opening Racing Again Summer Evening August 25th Maiden Hurdle at Kilbeggan.
Fourth in a Listed hurdle on his racecourse debut in France back in September 2019, the gelding was then off the track for 1000 days before winning a bumper on his Irish debut at Ballinrobe last May.
Following two promising runs back over flights just after Christmas, the eight-year-old was sent to post a strong 2-9f to make it fourth time lucky.
Tracking leader The Riastrad on the opening circuit, Paul Townend moved closer to dispute at the fifth flight before going on at the next. With the former unable to raise another effort, it was left to the long absent Albert Camus to go in chase from the second last.
However, having closed right up on the home turn, the John McConnell trained gelding found the lack of a recent run catching him out as he was unable to find anything extra on the run-in.
Paul Townend, “He jumped well on the whole apart from the third last. We went a good even gallop which was important for a big animal around here.
“He’d the benefit of a couple of runs in better races over the winter and settled better today. I’d say he’ll jump a fence in time as well.”
Additional reporting by Alan Magee.
