Double Speak gets McNamara off the mark

Former jockey Andrew McNamara saddled his first winner as a trainer when Double Speak stayed on well to win Punchestown's two mile maiden hurdle.

The gambled-on Castle Guest (9/2 in the morning to 7/4 favourite) soon led after the first hurdle and attempted to make every yard from there.

On the home turn Double Speak improved to second under Robbie Power and came to challenge Castle Guest at the last.

Castle Guest was ridden by Luke Dempsey upon touching down on the run-in but the petrol gauge had dipped into the red and he had no extra to give as he relinquished the lead.

Double Speak (8/1) kept on well to deliver by three and three quarter lengths. Castle Guest took second with Genesta on her first start for Mags Mullins, finishing well to get up for third at 20/1.

Andrew McNamara said: "I'm delighted to get off the mark. They've all been running well and we've had a couple of close calls. The horse falling in Cork (B Cosmos) was a bit disappointing.

“Everything has been running well and I'm delighted with the way there are going. I'm glad one has got their head in front.

“He had been off injured for a while and got quite heavy so I thought he might take the run but Puppy said he didn't give a blow.

“He's a very good jumper and will jump a fence in time. He'll probably step up to two-and-a-half miles now and go for a novice.

“I have five ready to go and a couple of bumper horses. They all should be competitive enough.”

Robbie Power added: "It's great. I've ridden a few horses for him (Andrew McNamara) so far and, give him credit where it is due, his horses look a million dollars. They are fit. I mean that horse hasn't run for two years. He's fit enough to do the job today.

"He wants two and a half (miles). I rode him work before and I thought he would win a two-and-a-half mile maiden, I didn't think he would win a two mile one. That wasn't the strongest of maidens so when he steps up to two and a half he should improve a bit more.

"He got him off Henry de Bromhead who is no slouch as we all know. But to produce a horse first-time out after two years off is a good training performance. "

Double Speak was last seen winning a bumper for de Bromhead at Killarney in August 2014.

Additional reporting by Gary Carson