You Raised Me Up defied a 143 days absence and top weight to land the Red Mills EBF Auction Novice Hurdle at Naas today as winning trainer Martin Brassil targets some loftier prizes.

The son of Presenting won his previous start, a maiden hurdle at the Listowel Festival, in September and today reappeared in fine fettle as he fought off the challenge of race-fit maiden Petibonome receiving 8lbs, to score a half length win under Grade 1 winning jockey Darragh O'Keeffe.

Afterwards Brassil stated “we were waiting for a bit of nicer ground and I didn’t think we were going to get it. Anyway I wanted to run him here to qualify for the Final in Punchestown and also a stepping stone to running in the County Hurdle in Cheltenham.

“Sean and Bernadine (Mulryan) like to run in the Festival meetings.”

Quotes from Alan Magee