Nearly Nama’d (4/1) ploughed through the heavy ground in Galway and had enough in the tank to keep Holeinthewall Bar at bay at the end of the two mile handicap hurdle.

Bryan Cooper gave his charge a squeeze as he asked for more when they came to the uphill turn-in. The gelding, in the first-time hood, answered the call and kept galloping resolutely to the line. Maxim Gorky was seen off, but Holeinthewall Bar (8/1) came with a real rattle under Jonathan Burke after the last and had closed to within a length at the line.

Bryan Cooper said: “He won his maiden on heavy ground and the key is to get him to relax and switched off. It’s hard work out there and the hood was a big help today too.”

Maxim Gorky was the 9/4 favourite and finished third of the eight runners. Jonathan Burke was 1lb overweight on Holeinthewall Bar. Nearly Nama’d had been backed in from 6s this morning.

Additional reporting by Alan Magee