The No Plans Syndicate have certainly been patient with Lisabbey Lord and they were rewarded when the son of Lord Americo, equipped with a first-time tongue-strap, sluiced home in the Oldcastle Handicap Hurdle. Sean Flanagan deputised on Donie Hassett's gelding for Mick Darcy, who was stood down after a fall from the same stable's Tullamakulla in the third race.

Hassett has been out of luck since Skidroe Joe scored at Tralee at the end of September although his son Brian was on the mark 'between the flags' with The Happy Horse at Killaloe in February.

Donie said: "We always thought there'd be a day in him. He wants good ground and a distance, in fact all the family want good ground. He won a point-to-point on bad ground and he'll jump a fence as well."

Lisabbey Lord won his point-to-point at Askeaton in January 2007. (EM)