Smoking Gun fires O'Brien to an across-the-card double

Smoking Gun gave Joseph O'Brien an across-the-card double when getting up close home in Limerick's rated novice hurdle.

He drew alongside Veneziano Springs turning for home and held a narrow lead at the penultimate flight.

He didn't jump the last at all well, though, and landed on all fours as Veneziano Springs regained the initiative.

However, Shane Shortall got into the drive position and got his mount up by half a length.

Veneziano Springs was second at 5/1 with Ming Dynasty seven lengths further adrift at 6/1.

Jockey Shane Shortall said: “He jumped and travelled well. Myself and Puppy (Robert Power) stayed out wide and he was game down the straight.

“He jumped the second last well, completely made a hash of the last but rallied well and won nicely in the end.

“He’s an improving horse and has won two now. It’s tacky ground and you either go on it or you don’t and he showed good character to get back up after that mistake at the last.”

O'Brien took the opener on Leopardstown's card with Sir Erec

Additional reporting by Alan Magee