N’golo steals the show as highly-touted Malone Road loses unbeaten record

The Kerry National may have taken centre stage but much of the intrigue on the card centred around Malone Road in the 2m novice hurdle.

However, the horse who once promised the world in bumpers could not build on his Kilbeggan win over hurdles, and finished a disappointing third behind the Willie Mullins-trained N’golo.

The winner shaped well on his hurdling debut at Galway but ran well below expectations at Kilbeggan the same day Malone Road made a successful return.