Donnacha O'Brien secured his first ever winner over jumps as Kilmeaden caused a minor upset in the opening race at Punchestown.
While the multiple Group One-winning trainer’s father Aidan and more recently brother Joseph have enjoyed plenty of big-race success under National Hunt rules, Donnacha had not saddled a runner over obstacles before Kilmeaden lined up at Limerick over Christmas.
The 91-rated Flat performer did not get off to the best of starts as he was already beaten when falling two flights from the finish and he was an 11-1 shot for his second test in the Matchbook 50:50 Graduation Series Maiden Hurdle.
However, he picked up smartly in the hands of J J Slevin and kicked two and a quarter lengths clear of the Willie Mullins-trained Madness d’Elle, and O’Brien said: "It’s nice to get it.
"This horse was a nice stayer on the Flat and we schooled him a few times and he schooled well, although he was sometimes a bit careful, so we said we may as well give him a few runs over hurdles and he seems to have taken to it pretty well today. It makes the winter a bit shorter I suppose!"
