Hellyhunter showed admirable battling qualities to get up close home for victory in the novice hurdle at Navan.
He and Acapulco had it between them from the second last and his rival looked to be getting the upperhand on the run-in.
Barry Geraghty got a great response from the Davy Fitzgerald-trained gelding, however, who just got up on the line to land the spoils.
"I was worried about the ground as he's a soft to heavy horse and I very nearly took him out as he wants genuinely soft ground," said Fitzgerald.
"I wasn't surprised. We weren't making enough use of him in his maiden hurdles.
"He'll go chasing and hopefully make up into a Moriarty horse like Mister Top Notch. I think a lot of him. He's a proper horse."
