THE lingering feeling that Battleoverdoyen was merely marking time until he got a chance to test his mettle over fences looks set to be borne out on the evidence of his comeback success in the Derrygimlagh Bog Irish EBF Beginners Chase over two and three-quarter miles.

Gordon Elliott’s Grade 1-winning hurdler was making his first appearance since his disappointing outing at Cheltenham last March and he banished that effort to the distant past with a display that was a mixture of assurance and style. Keith Donoghue made all the running on the imposing Gigginstown House Stud-owned six-year-old who was in control of this race at all stages.