Eddie O'Leary exasperated as Mengli Khan bumps into Supasundae at Kilbeggan

KilbegganRaces.com Hurdle | 2m4f | RTV

Kilbeggan has been pulling its weight in providing a springboard for genuine top-notchers in recent seasons. Take Tiger Roll as an example. He won a novice chase at the track before winning two Grand Nationals.

Arkle winner Put The Kettle On and Royal Bond Novice Hurdle winner Airlie Beach are others to have won at Kilbeggan before they became famous.

Those are big results for a small track and an even bigger result for Kilbeggan is the fact it has managed to attract two established horses in Supasundae and Mengli Khan, along with former Galway Hurdle winner Tigris River, to run in this ten-runner event.

Mengli Khan: has options at Galway after thisCredit: Patrick McCann

The proximity to Galway and a lack of alternative opportunities has clearly led to Kilbeggan being blessed with an above-average field, something Gigginstown's Eddie O'Leary was not expecting when Gordon Elliott entered up the former Grade 1-winning enigma Mengli Khan.

He joked: "Can you imagine finding this lovely race a couple of weeks back, a winners' of two, and who turns up in the thing? Only Supasundae!"

O’Leary added: "Here was us thinking we found a lovely race for Mengli Khan but it looks as though it will be difficult with Supasundae in there now. He's in the Plate and the Hurdle at Galway and we'll see what we do after this."

Supasundae, an eight-time winner, three of which were recorded at the highest level over hurdles, looks thrown in on his old form and Jessica Harrington is hoping for a good show provided the ground is safe.

She said: "Let's hope the ground is safe for him. He needs to be treated like an ordinary horse now and it's time for him to get going again. Hopefully he can have a nice run around. I'm not sure where we'll go from here."

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