Kyle’s Turn and That’ll Do Me were involved in a driving finish to the two-and-a-half-mile handicap hurdle at Punchestown, with the former coming out on top at 16/1 (201/ in the morning) despite being headed near the winning post.

Eddie O’Connell got a great response from Mrs John Ross’s lightly-raced nine-year-old gelding and the pair won by a head from 7/4 favourite (9/4 in the morning) That’ll Do Me, partnered by Ruby Walsh. Masked Phantom and Barneys Honour both at 25/1, grabbed third and fourth place respectively in the 22-runner handicap.

The winner took up the pace from Would You Do That on the turn in to the home straight and was strongly challenged after the last by the favourite but battled back gamely. Kyle’s Turn was returning from a break of 218 days. This was only his 16th jumps race.

Eyssen Ross trains the winner. Her son Kevin was in attendance and said: “He hadn’t run since the festival here so I thought he might need the run.

“The handicapper dropped him a few pounds so he looked slightly well in. He got to the front a bit soon but he was tough and kept going.

“I hope he might sneak into the Paddy Power at Christmas. I’m hoping he might win a nice race over fences.”

Michael Graham