So far training may not have provided Tommy Carmody with the same success that his illustrious riding career did, but Keeping The Faith gave him a welcome boost when winning on her hurdling debut at Navan yesterday.

Keeping The Faith may have had a busy but ultimately unsuccessful flat career but it was a different story yesterday when faced with hurdles.

Conor O'Dwyer, riding his 20th winner of the season, took his time on the filly but the partnership ranged up going ominously easily on the run to the last.

At that stage backers of the favourite Ministerial Model could console themselves with how easily she was going too after a securing a lovely run up the inner but, critically, she was none too clever at the last obstacle, whereas Kepping The Faith pinged it and went on to win by two and a half lengths.

"She's been unlucky in the past but I'm glad she's done it today. She could have possibilities over hurdles," a happy Carmody, 41, said.

"We'll go to Cheltenham for the juvenile hurdle at the Murphys meeting on November 16th. I think she's entitled to and she'll be my first runner in England. Hopefully Conor can ride again," he added.

Another winning newcomer to hurdles who indicated promise for the future is Kilcalm King, who justified evens favouritism in some style in the first division of the maiden hurdle.

Once Paul Carberry sent him about his business in the straight, the quick-jumping Kilcalm King quickly went away to beat Charlie Swan on Lord Of The Chase by an eased-down seven lengths.

"I think he's a fair horse, I hope so anyway," said trainer Noel Meade.

"Charlie's horse isn't bad and, depending on what's in it, I could be tempted to run him at Galway on Monday."

Michael Kinane had winner No 54 of the season in Ireland when winning the Virginia Handicap on Michael Halford's Just Like Annie who, having secured her winning bracket, will be retired to stud at the end of the year. Loughmogue finished third but her rider Francis Berry got a six-day ban for weighing in 2lb overweight.

After the newcomer Diya overcame early trouble to make a winning debut in the Skryne Maiden, Kevin Prendergast confirmed Oscar Schindler a runner in Sunday's French St Leger.

Kutta, runner-up in the Group Three Perpetual St Simon Stakes last year, was today given the green light in his bid to go one better on Saturday by trainer Robert Armstrong.