Hourigan receives his Just deserts

Limerick report and news: Michael Hourigan registered his second winner on the concluding day of Limerick's Christmas meeting yesterday, when Just caused a minor surprise, winning the O'Kelly Bros Demolition Handicap Hurdle under Davy Flannery.

Hourigan completed an across-the-card double when Almier credited the Patrickswell trainer with his fourth success of the four days' racing, in a handicap hurdle at Leopardstown, under Paul Carberry.

Just, who previously was not mapped when eighth of 15 over a similar trip at Limerick on St Stephen's Day, displayed good battling qualities to eventually wear down Calling Classy and John Cullen.

The winner looked held in third at the second last flight but stayed on well under a fine drive to lead well inside the final furlong for a two-length win.

Hourigan was in Leopardstown but was represented by his son Michael Jnr who, explaining the gelding's improved form, reported: "we used cheek pieces on him the last day but he only got used to them today. He's a horse you have to know, stays well but needs a strong drive."

Dusty Sheehy's Paddys Girl, under Michael Darcy, improved one spot on her second-place finish here on Monday when getting the better of Vitellius in a great battle from the final flight to win the Signs Express Handicap Hurdle.

Another horse to improve on a second-place finish here on Monday was Davy Fitzgerald's Pearly Jack, who defied top weight under Mikey O'Connor to win the 2m6f handicap chase.

Amateur jockey John Thomas McNamara collected the leading jockey award at the festival, partnering his third winner, on Good Step in the Moscow Society Maiden Hunters' Chase.

Winning trainer Enda Bolger confessed to being "pleasantly surprised by the win - adding first time blinkers really woke him up and he jumped brilliantly."

Good Step will be kept to hunter chase company and will bid for a repeat win in the banks race at Athlacca in the new year before going for another banks race at Punchestown in April.

Bruff trainer Gerry O'Neill, along with Hourigan, was another to saddle two winners at Limerick.

Gaza Strip provided top amateur jockey Derek O'Connor with his first win of the week in the mares maiden hurdle.

* Tony Dobbin gave up his last ride at Musselburgh yesterday after suffering a heavy fall in an earlier race.

Dobbin was unseated from Motive at the last flight in the Ballie Gifford Juvenile Novices' Hurdle, although he was fit enough to partner Rayshan in the following event.

The rider was slightly battered after that, however, according to his agent Richard Hale and decided to give up the mount on Jallastep in the Alexander Meddowes Fine Art Brokers Chase.

"He's fine but just a bit sore. He rode in the next but was feeling it a bit so missed the last. He'll be back tomorrow," said Hale.