You Can't Catch Me (Brian O'Connell) pings the final hurdle© Photo Healy Racing
Brian O'Connell took the riding honours with a 46/1 treble at Listowel on Monday, and he was among the winners again when You Can't Catch Me landed the Orchard Thieves Handicap Hurdle in impressive fashion.
The Kieran Purcell-trained gelding recorded a narrow win over course and distance last month but O'Connell had things much easier here, with 7/2 favourite Cabarete exiting at the opening hurdle.
The 6/1 chance travelled well to lead at the penultimate flight, and settled the issue with a fine leap at the last.
The seven-year-old gelding, who has now gained three of his four career wins at this venue, cruised clear on the run-in to score by seven lengths. Hatch Hall took the runner-up spot, with Pleased As Punch another half a length away in third.
Purcell said, "He is after improving half a stone since the last day here. I thought the ground was a little softer today and that it might catch him out but he handled it lovely.
"Brian gave him a great ride, he kept him on the outer for the good ground. They did a great job on the watering but maybe for a horse that wants good ground it might be too much. I didn't even look to see what is coming up for him, we take it day by day with horses."
(DM & AM)
