Namarama returned from an absence of near a year, at Tramore in August. On outing number two since the break, John Queally had his charge well primed to land a gamble in the Nire Valley Handicap Hurdle at Clonmel.

As was the case when victorious at Downpatrick in August 2012, Niall 'Slippers' Madden kept the Bob Back gelding to the outer. The 4/1 favourite (from 6s on track) led entering the straight and though the second and third, Bottle Rattler and Allez Vic kept going well, Namarama ended up crossing the line a length and a quarter and four and a quarter lengths to the good.

"I've no big plans but he stays well and he'll jump a fence in time. His dam is a half-sister to The Listener.

"The ground isn't too bad – it's not winter ground," reflected Queally, who trains Namarama for the Aintree Boys Syndicate. (TW & EM)