Bigz Belief repelled all comers to run out a gutsy all-the-way winner of the handicap hurdle at Naas this afternoon.

Sam Ewing gave the 7/1 shot a finely judged ride from the front in the race, run over just shy of two miles.

There looked to be plenty of challengers poised to challenge going to the second last but Ewing had kept a bit up his sleeve on the Matthew Smith-trained gelding.

Bigz Belief found plenty when asked before the final flight and saw off the challenge of Golden Spear on the run-in to record a length-and-three-quarters success.

The winner had been third to Epic Song on his latest outing at Punchestown on New Year's Eve and was recording his second success over jumps, having also scored on the Flat.

Smith said afterwards:- “Sam is a great young lad and he’s ridden a few for us on the Flat as well.

“He toughed it out well when they came to him. We expected him to run well today. He ran well at Punchestown the last day and has come on from that.

“We’ll find something similar for him.”

(Quotes by Alan Magee)