The McNiff brothers teamed up for success as High Talk ran out a facile winner of the 2m6f handicap hurdle at Downpatrick.

Luke McNiff made all on the 10/1 shot and stretched clear after the third last flight.

The result was never in doubt from there as the Mark McNiff-trained gelding cruised home to a eight-length success over Run And Dream

"We've had serious bother trying to get a run and he's been ballotted out six times since he ran here nine weeks ago," said the winning trainer.

"Compared to the mare that won twice here (Ilikeyou) he's a better horse but kept getting ballotted out over the distance we wanted and when he did get in it was too short.

"He was a buzzy horse last year and has matured in his head. Luke is good value for his 5lb claim and I use him on everything if I can."

Mick Darcy was taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast, complaining of abdominal pains, after a fall from Castara Bay in the race.