Landers doubles up on in-form Fest Deiz

Fest Deiz beat Isotope into second at Tipperary last month and repeated the feat in Roscommon to give jockey Cathal Landers a double on the card.

The pair contested the Athleague Handicap Hurdle over an extended two miles three furlongs and Isotope had a swing in the weights after being pipped by a head in Tipperary.

They were bang there at the head of affairs turning for home with Isotope first to come off the bridle in second.

Fest Deiz (5/1) upped the ante after the penultimate hurdle and kept up the gallop on the run-in to go on by two lengths for trainer Kieran Purcell.

Isotope (11/2) held on to second by half a length from Merry Poppins (7/1). There was a six and a half length gap back to Chasing Abbey (4/1f) in fourth.

Landers said: "I was told to jump out fourth or fifth and they were going no pace and I wasn't going to fight with him.

"When I hit the front, he spat it out and I dictated away. I had Hugh Morgan (on Isotope) upsides me for company and I was happy enough as I knew the form was there.

"He found plenty and I was very happy with him."

The jockey also won on Gone Racing for Mark McNiff.