Ask David paying his way for Doyle

Darragh O'Keeffe came in for a winning spare ride on first reserve Ask David in the the second division of the Black Hills Handicap Hurdle in Punchestown.

The nine-year-old gelding worked his way to the front approaching the last and a good jump there enabled him to power clear on the run-in.

The 5/1 shot came in by four and a half lengths from Let Her Flow (9/1). Danegeld (11/1) and Rule Of June (12/1) rounded out the places in this 20-runner field.

“When your luck is in, your luck is in. He was 101 on the ballot list and he got in. I was amazed," trainer Timothy Doyle said.

“When we were declaring, the ground was soft to heavy and I said there is no way we’ll run him on that as he ran on it in Limerick the other day.

“This morning it was yielding so I said we’d take our chance. As you can see he just loves that ground.

“It’s hard to get everything right for him. He loves a galloping track and it’s hard to get 0-95’s around a decent track.

“He’s been a smashing old horse and won around here two years ago as well. He picks up his odd race and keeps himself paid for. He stays well.

“We’ll tip away for the summer and go chasing when we think his mark has gone too high. He jumps well so we have options.”

Additional reporting by Alan Magee