After Richie McLernon saluted his friend John Thomas McNamara in the aftermath of his Paddy Power Gold Cup win on Johns Spirit at Cheltenham, thoughts again turned to the Limerick rider after the Crystal Cup Trial Risk Of Thunder Steeplechase at Punchestown as Love Rory got up in a rousing finish.

McNamara won a 'point' on the then four-year-old at Athlacca in May 2012 and he also won a hurdle on the Winged Love gelding at Limerick last Christmas.

Enda Bolger trains Love Rory and he also has Keep On Track who had every chance in front here when slipping up on the flat on the bend before two out under Brian Linehan.

Favourite Sizing Australia then looked a winner, but a good jump at the last (a hurdle) gave Love Rory a little squeak and the victorious 12/1 shot, a mere five-year-old, then powered home under Adrian Heskin to get up near the line and score by a head.

It was a lovely success for owner/breeder Eugene Kavanagh, proprietor of the Gravediggers pub in Glasnevin, and Bolger remarked: "I thought Sizing Australia was going to be hard to beat but he kept at it well and he'll go down the cross country route now.

"Keep On Track was a bit unlucky. He was going easily enough." (AM & EM)