Sean O'Keeffe does the business on 'Trixie's' topweight The John Rochford Memorial Handicap Hurdle was won by topweight Dave And Bernie (8/1) who led after the last and saw off Resurrected Duke by a length and a half. Knockraha Boss took third with the front-running 4/1 favourite Badness Backfires finishing fifth. The overnight gamble on Fassbender came unstuck when that one, ridden but still in contention, took a heavy fall at the last (horse and rider up). The winning 5-year-old, by Papal Bull, had been runner-up in maiden hurdles on his last two starts at Kilbeggan and Tramore. Winning owner-trainer Michael ‘Trixie’ Barry said: "We were hoping more than expecting it, but he has been knocking on the door the last couple of times. “I thought we had him a bit straighter today and he (Sean O’Keeffe) gave him a great ride. He never rode him before. “Ambrose (McCurtin) would have been riding him but he was claimed by John Joe Walsh (down the field on Romella). “We don’t get too many winners so we’ll enjoy it.” It was a 14th winner of the season for 5lbs claimer Sean O’Keeffe. Additional reporting by Eamonn Murphy
