Road completes 27/1 double for Hourigan

After winning the third with Undressed Michael Hourigan doubled-up in the Frank Hogan Mercedes Benz Limerick Handicap Hurdle, as his Moores Road landed a gamble under Cian Collins.

Successful on his sole point-to-point start at Dromahane in December of 2013, the seven-year-old son of Vertical Speed then went fifteen track runs without success.

He was second to Some Neck when backed from 33's to 11's over the course on Tuesday, and he was again well-backed today.

Available at 7/1 last night, he opened on-course at 4's, before going off the clear favourite at 3/1.

Sent straight to the front by Cian Collins he made all. He had all his rivals off the bridle turning into the straight, and he kept up the gallop under pressure on the run-in, going on to beat former stablemate Holeinthewall Bar by four and a half lengths.

The runner-up, who is now trained by Gordon Elliott, was returned at 9/2 (8's this morning) under Jack Kennedy, while Slicker City (20/1) was another three and a quarter lengths back in third, with Conor King aboard for Tom Gibney.

Michael Hourigan said afterwards: "The secret to him is making the running but it was by a mistake that we did it. I always thought he was a good horse but he disappointed.

"It's a bad day you don't learn something and we only learned how to ride him last Friday; we worked him and made the running and he finished happy!

"He'll go for a Thurles novice chase next and that's Cian's (Collins) first ride for me."

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes