Dempsey completes 509/1 double on Dorkas

Luke Dempsey completed a 509/1 double at Downpatrick, as he guided Dorkas to victory in the C Russell Auto Sales Handicap Chase.

Earlier successful on Two In One (33/1) for his father Philip, Dempsey was partnering Dorkas for Tipperary trainer Jimmy Finn.

Successful at Sligo last August, the daughter of Doyen was placed four times since, disappointing on her most recent outing over flights at Tramore.

Sent off at 14/1 this evening, she raced in mid-division and was eighth with a circuit to race.

She took closer order on the outer before three out and was ridden to challenge from the next.

The bay victor was ridden in pursuit of He Knows My Name from the last, and gradually wore that rival down, hitting the front in the closing stages before going on to score by half a length.

The runner-up was returned at 14/1 under Andrew Ring for Keith Watson, while Bold Sky (8/1) was another seven lengths back in third for Gordon Elliott and Jack Kennedy. Tiger Sam was sent off the 4/1 favourite (from 6s on-course) and he finished fourth.

Finn, who trains the winner for his niece Amanda, said: "It was a great ride from Luke. I promised Philip (Dempsey) I'd give him a spin, I met him in Sligo and he did me a turn.

"I met him (Luke Dempsey) in the car park and said to him that this mare had a great chance with the drying ground. I'm delighted she won.

"The ground the last day here was tacky and holding. She much prefers good ground especially over the extended trip.

"She has been very unlucky, she could have won a couple last year.

"She is more of a summer mare. She handles loose, soft ground but not tacky."

Additional reporting by Michael Graham