Denis was very pleased indeed with the way that Party Island made a start to his hurdling career under Sean Bowen at Leicester. Tony Killoran's gelding would have preferred ground that was not quite so soft and also a race run at a slightly truer gallop, but he arrived strongly in the last two furlongs to finish a close up third behind the two market principals. It would appear that the front two are well regarded hurdling debut winners from the in-form Dan Skelton and Jonjo O'Neill yards, so it should not be too long before Party Island is able to add a hurdling win himself to his five race successes on the flat.