Dunguib starts season with win
Dunguib made a victorious seasonal bow as he proved the best of the three runners in the Red Mills Trial Hurdle at Gowran this afternoon.
Philip Fenton’s charge won two Grade Ones as a novice last year before coming unstuck when a hot favourite at Cheltenham, finishing only third behind Menorah in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.
He subsequently failed to cut the mustard when upped to full company at Punchestown and he was having his first start since that comprehensive beating at the hands of Hurricane Fly.
The eight-year-old was still sent off the 8-11 favourite for this Grade Two event though and he looked a little ring-rusty as Brian O’Connell let him hack around at the back of the field as Luska Lad set the rhythm.
However, his jumping improved as the pace turned up a notch at halfway and he was travelling sweetly two-out as he moved upsides.
Luska Lad made a good race of it though and they were together coming to the last but a good leap from Dunguib sealed the win and he pulled three and a half lengths clear.
