Florida Express gained the second success of his career and certainly his most important when showing great reserves of stamina to land the Listed Imperial Call Steeplechase by eight lengths under Shane Jackson.

Equipped with cheek-pieces and a nose-band, the victorious ten-year-old took over from the front-running Tom The Traveller five out and he comfortably had the measure of well-backed favourite, Tinakellylad (5/2 into 15/8) when that one ploughed through two out.

Winning trainer, Philip Redmond (Gorey, Co. Wexford) said: "The deeper the ground the better and there is no point in running him unless it's like that. He has to have it at least soft to heavy. Unless the weather stays like this he'll go out to grass. That's probably my biggest training success."

Emmet Mullins, rider of Aran Concerto who departed at the ninth fence, said: "He just clouted the fence and did the splits on landing."