King back in winners enclosure with Rules

The three-mile handicap hurdle at Limerick produced another big priced victor and another trainer ending a long wait for a winner. Change The Rules was sent off a 22/1 shot (14/1 this morning opened 25/1 on course) but defied those odds with a game success.

Kevin Sexton produced him to lead before the second last and despite a error at the final flight he stuck on well in the closing stages.

Mr Shankly came through to give chase before the last but hard as he tried he could only get within a length of the winner at the line.

Winning trainer Aengus King had last visited the winners enclosure 'on the track' when Dego Dante scored at Listowel in June of 2006.

"I bought him for point to points but then couldn't sell him," admitted King afterwards.

"I thought he'd be good enough to win at this level and decided to run him over hurdles. He'll go for something similar next."

(Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes)