David Casey had to work hard to get Greatness up late to land the Athlone Handicap Hurdle at Kilbeggan. The Parishioner looked set to collect in the two-mile contest when hitting the front going to the last but 3/1f Greatness stayed on strongly on the run-in to collar him for a half-length success.

The Tony Martin-trained winner had been held up before making progress three for home. He still looked to have it to do in third before the last but finished to great effect.

The winner had shown significant improvement when third on his last start, on the level at Wexford.

“He didn't travel great and is still a bit babyish and green. I was off it most of the way," said Casey.

“It was just a case of hoping that I'd get there. It was a small bit of a struggle and he made me work.

“He hasn't had that many runs and the more experience he gets the sharper he'll be. He jumps well and if he hadn't jumped as well he wouldn't have got there.

“He should get a bit further in time.”

Casey was a last minute replacement for Paul Carberry, who failed to arrive in time to take the mount:-

“Paul was late and a couple of other lads were struggling to do the weight so luckily I got the ride.”