Hackett closes his eyes as Rock On Seamie heads for home

Rock On Seamie doubled his total over flights when keeping on well up the hill in the Tote SP Or Better Opportunity Handicap Hurdle over an extended 2m1f in Downpatrick.

The 5/1 shot travelled well into second after two out and hit the front before the last. Daniel King sent him about his business on the climb for the home and the eight-year-old gelding responded to sail in by four and three-quarter lengths. By Your Side the 5/2 favourite, stayed on for second without troubling the winner. Front-running I Don't Get It dropped a further two and a-half lengths back to third.

Trainer Ray Hackett said: "He was good, I was just afraid of the hill here - he travels real well and sometimes just doesn't see it out.

"Dan was good and positive on him. It is nice to get another one over hurdles with him.

"He got a fair penalty for being third in a good Grade B at Killarney and it kind of knocked the stuffing out of us last year with him.

"He has dropped a couple of pound and that helped him there today.

"We knew that (there would be plenty of pace) and we thought that we would have something to track the whole way. As Dan said, he would have loved to have had something for a bit longer.

"He got caught here I think two years ago up the hill, so I just closed my eyes!

"It kind of just didn't work out for him (the last day in Punchestown), he missed a hurdle or two and he was unlucky four from home when a horse in front of him missed it and shuffled him all the way back. He had to make a lot of ground from there. The last furlong he just kind of got caught for stamina then.

"I think he'd get it (extended 2m3f/2m4f) if things panned out properly for him, I think he is versatile enough."