"We have probably been riding him wrong. If they don't go a gallop he can be very free so Luke (Dempsey, his son and winning rider) had a plan today and he settled in front. I'm delighted to get it," said successful handler Philip Dempsey after his Kilkeaskins First won the Denis & Eithne Coyne Memorial Race Handicap Hurdle at Kilbeggan.

Backed from 10/1 into 7/1 Kilkeaskins First justified the faith of his supporters and at the end he had nine lengths in hand over well-supported favourite Sierra Law

"It's grand to get the win with him and that's his second now," elaborated Dempsey senior.

"He's that type of handicapper, he's no star, but it's grand to have won a couple with him.

"I wouldn't imagine the handicapper will be too hard as he is what he is and has had plenty of runs.

"We'll look for something similar. He probably takes a little bit of time between his runs.

"That ground is lovely today. We'll keep going on soft ground and he might have a couple of runs over fences and then bring him back for next summer but he certainly wouldn't handle the kind of ground we get after Christmas."

C.D. Maxwell, rider of The Trigger trained by Ronan M.P. McNally, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount struggled on the ground from the third hurdle onwards.

(GC & EM)