Jockey Rachael Blackmore completed an opening races double at Limerick today, when steering the Ellmarie Holden trained Ex Patriot to win the Signsplus Hurdle.

The 144 rated son of Elusive Pimpernel had finished fourth in last March's Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham and was today scoring a second career and hurdles win.

Afterwards Holden said “he won impressively and the track and ground suited and Rachael knows him inside out.

”We have him entered for a 2m4f conditions hurdle at Punchestown on Sunday and we'll see how he comes out of this.

“Rachael is in top form and is a brilliant girl.”