254/1 double for O'Connell as Davis delievers

Jefferson Davis ran out a comfortable winner of the Barry Ennis Memorial Novice Handicap Hurdle, providing his rider Brian O'Connell with a double on the card (earlier won on Delface .

Formerly trained on the level by Kevin Prendergast, the son of Duke Of Marmalade was bought by Eoin Doyle for E26,000 at Goffs last November.

He didn't show much on his first few starts over hurdles, and making his debut in handicap company today he was sent off at 14/1.

Travelling nicely in third from three out, he soon went second, and hit the front at the next. He was ridden before the last and kept on well on the run-in, going on to score by two and a half lengths. Killahara Castle finished second for John and Martin Burke at 9/2, while Tethra (9/1) was another two and three parts of a length back in third under Conor Maxwell for Dermot McLoughlin. Like A Demon was sent off the 3/1 favourite and he was another three and three parts of a length away in fourth for Roger Loughran and Nigel Slevin.

Eoin Doyle said afterwards: "He did it well. He probably wants better ground, and will be a grand horse for the summer. Going left-handed seems to suit him as he travelled better, and he could go to somewhere like Killarney."

Additional reporting by Alan Magee