No Looking Back (Phillip Enright) leads over the last© Photo Healy Racing
The Grade 2 Coolmore NH Sires Kew Gardens Hurdle attracted just two runners and appeared a straight forward affair beforehand but it proved anything but as No Looking Back upset the odds at Limerick. Brazil was sent off the 2/9 favourite and looked rock solid having won at the Cheltenham Festival and also landed a Grade 3 at Naas last time.
However, No Looking Back had done little wrong winning two of his three starts and Phillip Enright decided to track the long odds-on shot until mounting a challenge from two out.
The 3/1 chance quickened up nicely when asked for his effort and despite a slight mistake at the last, kept on well on the run-in to score by two and three-quarter lengths.
Enright said, "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.
“It was cat and mouse and I was lucky that I got the lead. That's racing.”
Winning trainer Oliver McKiernan’s assistant Tiego Vidal said, “He’s a half-brother of Unexpected Depth and Oliver got him at the sales.
“He always showed plenty of ability at home. He won a bumper and a maiden hurdle at Thurles and there wasn’t much option for him so we took a chance here.
“He did well and had to dig deep but I hope the boss is very happy with the result.
“He won on good ground twice but he doesn’t seem to mind that ground. I hope he can improve from that and see how far he can go.”
Enright and McKiernan were completing a quick double having also won the novice handicap chase with Difficult Decision
