The Gavin Cromwell trained 11 year old As De Pique has been a late-comer in his racing life but landed his second successive win in the Opel 162 Handicap Chase at Wexford, having taken the race on his breakthrough year in 2015.

The son of Woods Of Windsor won his first point to point as a nine year old, lost his racecourse maiden status over fences at ten and today scored his fourth chase win, under regular rider Brien Kane.

As De Pique was today returning following a 298 day absence and following the win, Kane stated “I expected a good run out of him and I'm not overly surprised he won. I thought he might need the run but was always confident on him.

"That's my fifteenth winner and my fourth on him. I rode my first winner on him last year, so he is auld gem to have on my side!”

By Tom Weekes, quotes from Donal Murphy