O'Brien saddles first winner over jumps via Kilmeaden Donnacha O'Brien followed in his father (Aidan) and brother's (Joseph) footsteps in saddling a winner over jumps through Kilmeaden in the opening graduation series maiden hurdle for four-year-olds at Punchestown. It didn't look overly promising for the son of Galileo as he came off the bridle in his pursuit of clear-leader Madness D'elle approaching the home bend. Madness D'elle appeared to be on good terms with himself, travelling the better, racing to the final flight, however, Kilmeaden warmed to his task under JJ Slevin and ground away at the deficit. He arrived on the scene in jumping the last on terms with Madness D'elle and soon took over on the run-in. The 11/1 shot finished well to come in by two and a-quarter lengths from the 4/11 favourite who didn't find as much off the bridle as first envisaged. Kizlyar was another six lengths away in third at 14/1 having been double those odds this morning. Kilmeaden was brought down in fifth at the penultimate flight on jumping debut at Limerick over Christmas. His victory on the Flat came at Galway last summer. “He’s a hardy horse, he’s a distance horse on the Flat. He’s a lazy racer, but he’s good and tough,” said Slevin. “He jumped well and he’s going the right way, he’s a right sort of a horse. He’s going to be a distance horse in time, I’d say he’ll go right out in trip. “I didn’t know how I was going in Limerick when I got brought down. At the same point of the race today, I was in the same boat - he saves a bit and he keeps grinding. He was an easy winner in the end.” When asked about ground he added: “He coped with that, it’s dead-ish ground. It walked a bit deeper, but it didn’t ride too bad on him.” Kilmeaden halved in price for the Triumph Hurdle with Paddy Power (100/1 - 50/1). Additional reporting by Gary Carson
