Brave Fortune was the one they wanted in the market for the Horse & Jockey Hotel Rated Novice Hurdle at Thurles and that confidence proved well founded.

Pat Doyle 's charge was backed form 5/1 into 2/1 favourite for the two-mile-seven contest and swept through to lead after the second last under the trainer's son Jack.

The Soldier Of Fortune gelding was pressed by Heroes Rise over the last but held that rival at bay in the closing stages to post a three-length success.

It was a second win over hurdles for Brave Fortune, who had been third in a similar event over two-and-a-half miles at Fairyhouse last time.

The winning trainer said:- "It was very nice and I suppose he did what was expected.

“We have a very high opinion of this horse, he won his point to point and has done everything well but it has really taken until now to come to himself.

"We'll probably step him up to a graded race now as handicapping might be out of the question as he'll be rated too high.

"We are looking forward to him going chasing as he is a fabulous jumper. He could even go chasing at the tail end of this season to keep him a novice until early December (2025), as he prefers nicer ground.”

(Quotes by Tom Weekes)