Former useful hurdler and Grade 1 bumper winner Sweeps Hill got favourite backs off to a good start when edging out market drifter Mr Nosie by a length, following a ding dong battle from the last in Punchestown’s opening beginners chase.
The Montjeu gelding was backed from 7/4 to 6/4 on course and landed the spoils in the hands of David Casey despite hanging badly at the business end of the race.
Trainer John Kiely said: “That was nice. I was hoping he would run well. He likes that good ground.
“I don’t know where he will go next but if the ground is hard he won’t go anywhere.”
There was a stewards enquiry into possible interference from the winner to Mr Nosie and Ruby Walsh on the run-in but the placings remained unaltered.
Walsh’s charge was returned at 5/1 having opened at 7/2. Cross Appeal was 19 lengths back in third at 12/1.
