Dave And Bernie and Sean O'Keeffe (left) win from Resurrected Duke (blue)© Photo Healy Racing
The John Rochford Memorial Handicap Hurdle was won by topweight Dave And Bernie (8/1) who led after the last and saw off Resurrected Duke by a length and a half. Knockraha Boss took third with the front-running 4/1 favourite Badness Backfires finishing fifth.
The overnight gamble on Fassbender came unstuck when that one, ridden but still in contention, took a heavy fall at the last (horse and rider up).
The winning 5-year-old, by Papal Bull, had been runner-up in maiden hurdles on his last two starts at Kilbeggan and Tramore.
Winning owner-trainer Michael ‘Trixie’ Barry said: "We were hoping more than expecting it, but he has been knocking on the door the last couple of times.
“I thought we had him a bit straighter today and he (Sean O’Keeffe) gave him a great ride. He never rode him before.
“Ambrose (McCurtin) would have been riding him but he was claimed by John Joe Walsh (down the field on Romella .
“We don’t get too many winners so we’ll enjoy it.”
It was a 14th winner of the season for 5lbs claimer Sean O’Keeffe.
Additional reporting by Eamonn Murphy
