Charlie Swan made the trip to Ludlow worthwhile with an 8 to 1 double yesterday, courtesy of victories for This Is Serious and Birth Rite.

He sent a team of five runners to the Shropshire venue and broke his duck when This Is Serious lived up to his name with an easy success over Absolutely Hopeful in the Brown Clee Handicap Hurdle.

Swan was soon back in the winner's circle when Birth Rite stretched clear of some leg-weary rivals to register a 15-length verdict from Bush Park in the concluding in the bumper. "I was a little bit worried when the rain was getting into the ground but soft in Ireland is a bit worse than it is here and both horses have done it very nicely," stated Swan.

"It's expensive enough to bring the horses over and it was a slow journey taking 12 hours all in, but we came here due to a lack of opportunities at home and some better ground," he added.

Milady Ana stayed on too strongly for Swan's Cree River in the Tote Lady In Red Novices Showcase Handicap Hurdle after hitting the front four from home.

Swan had no plans for This Is Serious, but Birth Rite is entered in the Cheltenham Festival bumper.