Plenty of winners contested the concluding bumper in Fairyhouse and one of them, Martello Tower showed plenty of resolve hit the line first for Mags Mullins and Robbie McNamara.

He returned from a year off the track to be fourth in a Listed novice hurdle in Naas in March. Last year’s two appearances resulted in two wins – in a point-to-point in Ballyragget and a bumper in Punchestown.

Today’s encounter saw McNamara send the 13/8 favourite into an early lead. He looked to have plenty on his plate with a quarter of a mile to go, but his jockey got a good response from him in the latter stages and the pair held on by half a length. Measureofmydreams (7/4) for Willie and Patrick Mullins were beaten into second, a neck in front of Kauto Grand Mogol who was a close-up third at 16/1.

Mags Mullins said: “I’m delighted with him. We’ll keep him a novice for next season. He had a little problem last year and we missed the whole season with him. He had a bruise in his joint. We did a little job on him in Fethard Clinic and it looks good now.

“Fingers crossed we’ll have him for next year. He’s had a run over hurdles and he’ll go back to do that. He’s fresh so he might go to Killarney. He’s good and tough and the Milan’s are good and tough. Robbie was impressed with him there.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson