CONDITIONAL jockey Paul O’Brien’s dash from Warwick to Uttoxeter was rewarded with a 35-1 across-the-card double for Chipping Norton trainer Charlie Longsdon on Louse Talk and Castafiore.

O’Brien struck first on newcomer Louse Talk, a £45,000 purchase after winning an Irish point-to-point in May.

The 8-1 shot made all the running to see off 5-6 favourite Rio Quinto by three lengths in a novices’ hurdle over two miles and five furlongs.

O’Brien said: “I was a little bit surprised to be honest. I have not ridden him much at home, but I loved the way, from the turn in, he picked up.

“He has a three-mile chaser written all over him down the road. He is a big strapping horse.”

O’Brien then travelled on to Uttoxeter where he repeated the front-running tactics on Castafiore (3-1) for an easy success in a two-mile mares’ handicap hurdle.

The five-year-old quickened clear in the home straight to record a 12-lengths verdict over Llantara.

Longsdon (pictured) notched his third winner of the weekend when Just Don’t Ask made the long trip to Ayr pay off by justifying prohibitive odds of 1-10 in a maiden hurdle.

Brian Hughes’s mount never saw another rival as he came home 15 lengths clear of Geronimo in the extended two-and-a-half-mile contest.