Titley completes double

Jason Titley completed a 41 to 1 double at Galway yesterday aboard The Dipstick and Storm Gem.

The Dipstick was sent past the front-running favourite Fadoudal Du Cochet before the last in the first division of the Connacht Court Maiden Hurdle and kept on under pressure to score by one and a half lengths.

Storm Gem put Titley on the 18-winner mark for the season when showing great battling qualities to take the Esat Digifone Handicap Hurdle by the minimum margin. Pat Fahy's charge appeared booked for the runner-up spot but rallied strongly on the run-in to catch Manus The Man. "She may revert to the flat for a 1m 6f amateur handicap at the Curragh next week," said Fahy afterwards.

Joe Casey also gave a great performance in the saddle aboard Waterloo King to land the featured AIB Bank Handicap Chase. The John Joe Walsh-trained gelding was up with the pace throughout and a couple of tremendous leaps in the dip left him clear to beat Tell The Nipper by six lengths.

Frances Crowley saddled a double with Coolaness making most in the opening Ladbroke Novice Hurdle under championship leader Ruby Walsh, and the Garrett Power-ridden Native Time proving a narrow winner of the bumper.