O'Brien completes 116/1 double on Poppy

Amateur rider Eoin O’Brien recorded his first double as Brave Poppy landed some nice bets in the bumper at Limerick, the Greenmount Equine Hospital INH Flat Race.

O’Brien, who is from Mitchelstown, was earlier successful aboard Bother Clei and he doubled-up here for Ray Hackett with the brace coming in at 116/1.

Available at 33/1 in a place this morning, Brave Poppy opened on-course at just 16’s before going off a 12/1 chance.

Having chased the leaders throughout on the outer, the successful son of Craigsteel travelled best and hit the front from two furlongs out. Black Warrior threw down a strong challenge inside the final furlong but the winner pulled out more under pressure, going on to prevail by half a length.

Black Warrior was returned a 9/4 chance under Johnny Barry for Charles Byrnes, while Slippery Serpent completed the placings a further twenty-three lengths back in third under Kevin Power for Edward O’Grady at 16/1. Dounikos Jamie Codd for Tony Martin, was sent off the 7/4 favourite but he obviously couldn’t cope with the extremely testing conditions and was pulled up.

Ray Hackett said afterwards: "His work at home showed me he was capable of doing that. I originally bought him for a point-to-point but his work was so good I decided to come here instead.

"He was a bit free early so it was a good effort to get home on that ground and if he isn't sold, there's a winners' bumper back here for him on St Patrick's Day."

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes