Mckinley and Paul Townend chase down Tell Us More and Bryan Cooper© Photo Healy Racing
McKinley sprung a 33-1 shock as he overcame his unbeaten stablemate and hot favourite Tell Us More to take the Lawlor's Hotel Novice Hurdle, the first Grade One event ever run at Naas.
Pulled up in mid-race at Leopardstown only last weekend, the five-year-old was allowed to make a quick return to action by Willie Mullins, and he was ridden by Paul Townend as Gigginstown stable jockey Bryan Cooper was on the market leader.
Tell Us More led for most of the way, but he could not get away from McKinley coming down the straight and was collared close home, with three-quarters of a length separating the pair at the post.< Fort Smith has run well against much tougher opposition than he encountered in the Annual Membership At Naas Maiden Hurdle & ndash; including McKinley - and Gordon Elliott's charge was sent off the 1-7 favourite.
Settled in second by Cooper, he found nothing when asked to join Lisclogher Lad (6-1) in front and lost the runner-up spot as Ballycahane charged late to get to within a short head of the leader, who was ridden by Stephen Gray for the Sean Walsh yard.
Henry de Bromhead's 7-2 chance Sizing Granite returned to winning ways when he led marginally going to the last and pulled out all the stops under Johnny Burke to forge two and a quarter lengths clear of Fine Rightly in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Novice Chase.
Robert Tyner brought Whatwillwecallher (4-6 favourite) back in tip-top condition after an absence of more than three years to coast to victory by eight lengths on her fencing debut in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Beginners Chase under Tony McCoy.
She was completing a double for the trainer, who sent out the rapidly improving 5-2 favourite Leap Dearg to take the Panoramic Restaurant At Naas Handicap Chase by two lengths in the hands of Phillip Enright despite a clumsy error at the last.
David Mullins got a nice run up the inside to lead on the run-in and take the Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Hurdle by half a length on the Gordon Elliott-trained 11-2 shot High Expectations
