Unexpected Depth scoots home for O'Keefe

Unexpected Depth rewarded strong market support in the Lengthen The Odds With BetVictor Maiden Hurdle at Sligo.

The five-year-old gelding travelled well in third after the third last and made smooth headway between horses to land on terms after the next.

He came through to lead off the home bend and readily asserted coming to the last.

The 4/5 favourite (from as big as 9/4 in the morning) wasn't extended in winning by four and a quarter lengths under Darragh O'Keefe. Hewick took the runner-up berth at 16/1 with another eight lengths back to third-placed Tico Times (50/1).

“We're delighted with that because he's a horse that has taken us a while to get him where he is today,” said trainer Oliver McKiernan.

“He was a very highly strung type of horse. The last day in Ballinrobe a horse fell beside him at the first and I think both the jockey and the horse got a fright and it didn't help him.

“He has settled there now and has a better way of travelling, he doesn't take as much out of himself.

“In fairness this evening's race probably wasn't as good a race as the one in Ballinrobe.

“The ground was probably okay for him. We'll keep him going for a while and might look for a novice somewhere.

“He's a grand horse, he jumps well and everything, but it was an ordinary race.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson