Diggin Deep brings his homework to the track

Diggin Deep lived up to his name as he saw out the three miles out best in the qualified riders' handicap hurdle in Clonmel.

The 22/1 chance made headway to dispute the lead at the third last and assumed the sole lead before the next.

A good jump at the last under Aaron Fahey saw the spoils banked by three lengths, Ask David (8/1) came in second by a nose to Stamp Your Feet (9/2).

Trainer Paul Fahey said: "He was working seriously well but disappointed in Tramore last week when we were absolutely disgusted. On Sunday we put a tongue-tie and blinkers on him and he worked like the way he was working going to Tramore.

"The ground is proper quick and he hasn't got that for a while but it was the blinkers, in my mind, that made the difference - we won't be leaving them off him anyway.

"He was a cheap horse, has done his job and has the option over fences now as well.

"Killian Carroll owns him and works with me as a farrier but not in the yard. It's his first horse, we said we'd have a bit of fun and it's great. There's lads that spend an awful lot of money and never get into a winners' enclosure."

Additional reporting by Tom Weekes