IT was great to see David Christie’s journey to Tramore on Monday pay off in double fashion with the Darragh O’Keeffe-ridden Blue Markie justifying favouritism in the two-mile, six-furlong handicap chase immediately before Barry O’Neill land the hunters’ chase on another favourite, Winged Leader.

While the first winner is owned solely by Portrush hotelier Jennifer O’Kane, she jointly owns the second, who may go to Punchestown or Stratford for their respective champion hunters’ chases, in partnership with John Hegarty.