Jockey Richie Deegan completed a double at Killarney today, steering the Dermot McLoughlin trained Digby to consecutive wins in the Killarney Plaza Hotel Rated Novice Hurdle.

Deegan, successful half an hour earlier on the Eoin McCarthy trained Elite Des Mottes produced Digby with a late challenge to lead on the run-in, and defeat front-runner Ally Cay by a length and a quarter.

Afterwards this year's Irish Grand National winning trainer McLoughlin stated “Richie said he is a grand horse, is still a bit raw and said they went a good gallop. He said he knew from the bottom of the straight he had them covered and he stays going well, we thought that ourselves after his Sligo win.

“Winter ground is an unknown but has been running on quick ground and that's the softest ground he has run on yet. He has been on the go a while but we'll see what the boss man (owner Pat Conway) wants to do.

“He'll jump fences next year.”

It was a third career double for Deegan, who turned professional in February.