NO Looking Back caused an upset when overturning odds-on favourite Brazil in the Grade 2 Coolmore NH Sires Kew Gardens Hurdle. The Oliver McKiernan-owned and -trained gelding led before the final flight and went away to win easily.

Winning jockey Philip Enright said of the 3/1 winner: “I’m surprised, but it’s brilliant. He was a bit of an unknown after winning in Thurles but is a horse that Oliver and the team have loved. Johnny Barry has always thought lots of him and he proved him right today. When I quickened him, he picked up over the last, and hopefully he can progress again. He landed running and galloped to the line.

“You’d have to be surprised going from a maiden to open company. Brazil is a fantastic horse as his form has shown.”

Main Danger

Enright and McKiernan were completing a double following the earlier win of Difficult Decision in the Limerick Racecourse Vets Novice Handicap Chase. Also, in the colours of McKiernan, the 10/1 shot made virtually all the running and saw off main danger Made In The Woods before the second last.

Enright reported: “We got a nice start and he jumped brilliant all the way. There were a couple of casualties behind and hopefully they are okay.

“He enjoyed himself and jumped from fence to fence. We jumped the second last and it kind of sealed it for us. Oliver’s horses are in great form and Tiago and all the team are doing a brilliant job. I’m lucky enough to be getting the leg up on them.”

Bonus territory

Sir Bob won the opening Ryans Cleaning Event Specialists Veterans Handicap Chase for Robert Tyner and Mark Walsh. The 6/5f only broke his maiden tag over fences last time but quickly followed up here.

Robert Tyner said: “He did it well and handles that ground. It’s brilliant to get another race with him. He was a long time over fences without winning and he’s after getting two now so we are in real bonus territory with him now. He stays well.

“When Punchestown was called off for a week I was a little bit worried as there was 18 days between them and it ended up being 10. I was a bit concerned about that but he seemed very fresh and well in himself.

Loyal support

Marelly justified strong loyal support when running out an even-money winner of the Racing TV Rated Novice Hurdle (in Memory Of Andrew McNamara) for the Give Her Welly Marelly Syndicate. Eoin McCarthy, sending out his third winner of the week said: “That was ideal for him today, two miles on that kind of ground with his rating.

“I’m delighted for the lads to have a local winner at Christmas and hopefully he can step forward again. We have a lovely bunch of horses at the minute and we’re lucky that a lot of them like this ground which is an asset this time of year. He should be a lovely horse over a fence next year.”

Local win for Flemensfirth talent

ALPESH Amin was the first of two very well-backed winners on the day, when landing a gamble (20/1 into 11/4) for owner Ms Olivia Long in the Connolly’s Red Mills Irish EBF Auction Maiden Hurdle. Trained locally by Eric McNamara and ridden by son Conor (McNamara), the five-year-old led over the last and quickened well.

Eric McNamara said: “It was lovely to win that race for Olivia Long who is a wonderful owner of mine. He a lovely Flemensfirth horse who was second in a bumper and placed over hurdles so he was entitled to win. Donagh Meyler took up the running about a mile and a quarter from home and that was the best thing that could happen for us to put some pace into the race as all our lad does is stay. He’ll probably go handicapping now over two and a half miles and could go for the final of this series.”

Pan out

An even bigger plunge was landed in the Geary’s Garage Kilmeedy Maiden Hurdle as Go Boy collected for trainer Mark Molloy. Returned at 7/1, the J Upton-Murphy owned gelding had been available at 80/1 overnight. Mark Molloy said: “The Hydes always loved him; thought he was a very nice horse but he got sick and it just didn’t pan out for him. They asked me would I like to take him on. He has issues and it’s a day-by-day thing but we’ll enjoy today. He was going well at home but he’d always looked like a nice horse and it hadn’t happened. It was hard to know would he handle this ground. Hopefully this is something to build on.”

Doyen Ta Win brought the curtain down on the festival when making all the running to score in the Party Time Handicap Hurdle. The Newbury Syndicate owned filly was given a well-judged ride by Kevin Sexton.

Winning trainer Declan Queally said: “She had been knocking on the door and Kevin gave her a great spin in Wexford. We felt the last day in Clonmel there was plenty of pace and we’d drop her in. Today he said he’d go again and the syndicate were happy with that. She’s not the easiest and the steering wouldn’t be great but Kevin is a wonderful horseman and we’re delighted to have him.”