ROI De Dubai enabled John McConnell to bag an across-the-card double but, more importantly, his victory under Adam Short in the Seamus Mulvaney Crockafotha Handicap Hurdle gave the trainer a second winner of the week at his cherished Bellewstown.

In the colours of American-based owner Caroline Ahearn, Roi De Dubai was stepping forward from his unplaced first run of the year at Wexford last month. However, he was beaten by less than three lengths on that occasion and a return to a more suitable two and a half miles enabled him to pull off a long term plan as he made most of the running to score by four and three quarter lengths. Roi De Dubai (4/1) could now head to Galway-for the valuable two-and-three-quarter-mile handicap hurdle on the Saturday of the meeting.