While Irish steeplechase fans keenly await the return to action of Nick Dundee, the reputation of the family is being upheld by Nick's younger half-brother Ned Kelly, who runs in the four-year-old hurdle at Naas today.

Ned Kelly has yet to be beaten on home ground, having sustained his single defeat at Cheltenham. He has never been ridden by a professional jockey, with Philip Fenton taking over from Tom Magnier once Eddie O'Grady put him to hurdling.

At Naas the opposition in his first jump start was topped by Bust Out, who was not only a dual bumper winner but had also been placed over hurdles.

It was therefore a handsome showing to see off Bust Out by two and a half lengths and at Naas this afternoon he can handle the more experienced Young American, whose place form over jumps includes a shorthead defeat by Wild Arms at Fairyhouse on Easter Monday.

Naas has the reputation of being "the punters' graveyard" but the figures do not bear that out and just to prove the point favourite-backers could start the day with a hat-trick with Ned Kelly (1.45) being successfully preceded by Harbour Pilot (12.45) and Native Dara (1.15).

For a value-for-money nap, the Tim Doyle-trained Morning Breeze (2.45) is named to take advantage of what appears to represent a very fair allotment in the Weatherbys Ireland Insurance Services Handicap Hurdle.

Her flat form this year included a narrow defeat by Hirapour at Listowel's April meeting while in the second of two hurdle wins she picked them up between the last two flights to spreadeagle Geodalus and McCracken at Clonmel, the margin being a dozen lengths.

There was no mistaking the promise displayed by longtime absentee Bucking Along at Naas when a closest-at-finish fifth to Alpha Centauri.

He carries the nap tomorrow at Clonmel where the crowd-puller will be the Grade Two Morris Oil Chase, where Doran's Pride can achieve a popular victory.