The theme of exciting youngsters, Derek O'Connor and J P McManus seems to strengthen by the day and the Edward O'Grady-trained No Flies On Him looks another after his victory in the TRI Equestrian Maiden Hurdle at Leopardstown.

County Cork point-to-point venue Knockanard has thrown up many top-notchers over the years, and 317 days on from a debut success there, No Flies On Him (3/1) looked good in the hands of Mark Walsh in this Christmas Foxrock opener.

A lovely slick leap at the last helped the victorious Westerner gelding to close out proceedings, which he did in the end by a length and three parts from D B Cooper Paddy Power now go 25/1 from 50/1 about No Flies On Him for the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle.

“We're absolutely thrilled with him,” said O'Grady.

“I chose him as a three-year-old at the Derby Sale, JP very kindly let me pick one out.

“He in turn then sent him for a proper education, to boarding school, to Derek O'Connor who did a fantastic job with him. Then he came back to me this autumn.

“He has a wonderful pedigree, his great grandmother is the dam of Makybe Diva who won three Melbourne Cups.

“He looks like a very promising horse. I've had a lot of swans in the last few years and they've all turned out to be geese but I think this fella might stay a swan.

“Mark said that there wasn't any great pace so he was very happy to be in front. He jumped superb and maybe got a little bit lonely after the last but he was very happy with him.

“I suppose I'll be told what to do with him but I wouldn't mind stepping him up.

“The horse that was second to him in his point-to-point (Jango Baie) won first time out at Ascot for Nicky Henderson. He runs in a Grade 1 at Aintree today so it will be interesting to see how he runs.

“He'll have to be entered in Grade 1s anyway and fingers crossed I think he might just get there.

“He's got size and scope and he's only a four-year-old. I think there is going to be tremendous improvement in him, I hope so.

“Hopefully he stays lucky, stays right and healthy. I've been waiting for one like this for too long, thank-God the number six bus has arrived and I'd love if a second one would arrive in a hurry.”

A.P. Kelly, rider of Do The Math trained by Shane Crawley, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount never travelled.

A.P. Heskin, rider of Lieber Nicc trained by Henry de Bromhead, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount never travelled.

M.J.M O'Sullivan, rider of Chatterbox trained by John Joseph Murphy, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount was very green at the first few hurdles and ran around a bit.

(GC & EM)