“Santa is not bringing new toys, so I keep going with what I have” quipped down-in-numbers trainer Val O'Brien after veteran Avec Espoir won last year and today he gallantly landed Ballinrobe's On-Course Bookmakers Handicap Hurdle.

The Flying Legend-gelding gained his first success aged eight in 2021 and today, at 11, reverted to hurdles rated 29lb below his chase rating, under 5lb claimer Gary Noonan.

Avec Espoir went clear of 14 rivals from the second hurdle, maintained a 30-lengths lead from halfway to the second-last and while tiring, held off runner-up I Am Rocco by 14-lengths, with a third of the field pulling up.

It was Avec Espoir's fifth success and popular trainer O'Brien, who excels with veteran horses, reported “he had never even been placed over hurdles but likes being out in front as he gets nervous amongst horses.

“He's a particularly clean jumper of a fence whereas over hurdles, horses can be a bit lower and quicker than him. He got a bad fall in Wexford so we brought him back over hurdles to get his confidence back.

“Gary had won on him in the past and said he was going to let him bowl along. At one stage I was wondering had he gone too quick, but he judged it well. He'll probably go back over fences now.”

Quotes from Mark Nunan