No Flies On Him has O'Grady looking forward with relish

The theme of exciting youngsters, Derek O'Connor and J P McManus seems to strengthen by the day and the Edward O'Grady-trained No Flies On Him looks another after his victory in the TRI Equestrian Maiden Hurdle at Leopardstown.

County Cork point-to-point venue Knockanard has thrown up many top-notchers over the years, and 317 days on from a debut success there, No Flies On Him (3/1) looked good in the hands of Mark Walsh in this Christmas Foxrock opener.

A lovely slick leap at the last helped the victorious Westerner gelding to close out proceedings, which he did in the end by a length and three parts from D B Cooper . Paddy Power now go 25/1 from 50/1 about No Flies On Him for the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle.

“We're absolutely thrilled with him,” said O'Grady.

“I chose him as a three-year-old at the Derby Sale, JP very kindly let me pick one out.

“He in turn then sent him for a proper education, to boarding school, to Derek O'Connor who did a fantastic job with him. Then he came back to me this autumn.

“He has a wonderful pedigree, his great grandmother is the dam of Makybe Diva who won three Melbourne Cups.

“He looks like a very promising horse. I've had a lot of swans in the last few years and they've all turned out to be geese but I think this fella might stay a swan.

“Mark said that there wasn't any great pace so he was very happy to be in front. He jumped superb and maybe got a little bit lonely after the last but he was very happy with him.

“I suppose I'll be told what to do with him but I wouldn't mind stepping him up.

“The horse that was second to him in his point-to-point (Jango Baie) won first time out at Ascot for Nicky Henderson. He runs in a Grade 1 at Aintree today so it will be interesting to see how he runs.

“He'll have to be entered in Grade 1s anyway and fingers crossed I think he might just get there.

“He's got size and scope and he's only a four-year-old. I think there is going to be tremendous improvement in him, I hope so.

“Hopefully he stays lucky, stays right and healthy. I've been waiting for one like this for too long, thank-God the number six bus has arrived and I'd love if a second one would arrive in a hurry.”

A.P. Kelly, rider of Do The Math , trained by Shane Crawley, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount never travelled.

A.P. Heskin, rider of Lieber Nicc , trained by Henry de Bromhead, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount never travelled.

M.J.M O'Sullivan, rider of Chatterbox , trained by John Joseph Murphy, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount was very green at the first few hurdles and ran around a bit.

(GC & EM)