The Liz Doyle-trained Justmemyselfandi gained a deserved success when claiming the two-mile two-furlong maiden hurdle at Leopardstown.

8/13 favourite Capital Force looked in a commanding position turning for home but faded in the closing stages.

Brian O’Connell got a good tune from well backed 4/1 shot Justmemyselfandi (6/1 in morning) and he grabbed the market leader on the run-in for a length-and-a-quarter success. Harold Peto also stayed on to take the runner-up spot as Capital Force had to settled for third.

The winner had been placed in four bumpers and also on his jumping debut at Limerick last month.

“I’m very pleased. His best run was his last run and that was on the best ground he’s ran on so I chanced the good today,” said Doyle.

“I’ve always loved him but he struggled a little bit on the deep deep stuff.

“Brian said he was jumping every hurdle like a fence so hopefully it’ll get a little bit lower and quicker.

“He’s no superstar but he’s progressive and on an upward curve. He’s a lovely sound clean horse.

“I fell in love with him when I saw him galloping around Monksgrange and we ended up buying him.

“We’ll look at a rated novice hurdle or maybe a handicap with him. We’ll probably dip our toe into some kind of a novice race.

“I mightn’t aim too high over hurdles this year and get some experience and mileage into him.

“He has a lovely pedigree and his dam is a half-sister to a good horse that Ted Walsh had, Southern Vic.”

O’Connell added: - “He had a lovely run the first day at Limerick, on the inside track which was probably a bit sharp for him.

“I could see Ruby niggling going to the last so I thought I had a bit of a chance.

“He’ll have no problem stepping up in trip especially on that ground. It’s surprisingly good for this time of year and he handled it well."