Richard Dunwoody was the rider in form at Limerick yesterday when completing a double on Mallardstown and Gentle Buck. The Ulsterman made virtually all on the Edward O'Gradytrained Mallardstown to beat Diamond Melody by four and a half lengths, with 1 to 3 favourite Cailin Supreme finding little in the straight a further eight lengths back.

However, O'Grady lost his useful Reasilvia after the gelding fractured a pastern in the BRC McMahon Reinforcements Handicap Hurdle.

Dunwoody followed up on Gentle Buck in the Newenham Mulligan Novice Chase. The race was not without its fair share of drama with the winner coming to a virtual standstill after a bad mistake, and Rosin The Bow, who was alongside at the time, falling.

Michael Byrne indicated afterwards that the Buckskin gelding will go next for the Grade One Drinmore Chase at Fairyhouse.

Aidan O'Brien was also in double form with Blasket Sound beating Ballygowan Beauty, who made a costly error at the last, by two lengths in division one of the maiden hurdle, and Strange But True touching off better-fancied stablemate Lady Moskva in the Shannon Mares Flat Race.

Meanwhile at Naas on Saturday, Sean Treacy's Afarka (Garrett Cotter) battled on gamely after the last to beat Montelisa (Charlie Swan) in the featured two and a half mile Brown Lad Handicap Hurdle.

Second Schedual notched up his seventh win over fences to win the Paddy Cox Handicap Chase to initiate a 53 to 1 brace for Jason Titley. The rider went on to take the Quinns Of Naas Novice Chase aboard Fergie Sutherland's Pancho's Tango.