Double Speak brought up plenty of bets when battling well to land Division Two of the two mile five handicap hurdle in Limerick.

The nine-year-old gelding picked up the lead with three furlongs and two hurdles to negotiate.

He was off the bridle turning for home but still held a narrow advantage two out. He was ridden by Robbie Power approaching the last and then headed on the run-in by Coolmill on his inside.

However, Double Speak rallied close home to get up by a neck at 12/1 having been as big as 25/1 in the morning.

Coolmill had to settle for a runner-up prize at 33/1 with well-backed Pixie Lane a short head away in third at 8/1 from 16/1.

Robbie Power said: "I thought going to the last I was beaten. To be fair to him he is a horse that has had lots of problems and he doesn't half tough it out.

"All the credit goes to Roger Loughran because when I was injured Roger has been riding him the last couple of runs and he has been riding him work.

"He rode him work the other morning and he told Dot (Love) that he was ready to go. Unfortunately for Roger he had other ties in the race so I got back on him. He said to me today just as we were leaving the weigh room 'this will be his Gold Cup today'.

"A lot of credit also to Dot and her daughter Melanie as they've done a good job keeping him right.

"He has had a lot of problems and wants good ground - I won a maiden hurdle on him at Punchestown last year for Andrew McNamara and he was right today and if they can keep him right, he should win another handicap and a little beginners chase somewhere along the line as well."

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes