Native Stag earns tilt at Galway Hurdle
She's So Dainty held a long lead for much of the journey and Walsh was the first to go in pursuit.
Heading to the second last, it was Polly Anthus who hit the front, but was followed through by the eventual winner.
Native Stag edged on going to the final flight and was hard driven all the way to the line to hold On You Way.
“I thought the race would work out differently and that Ruby would arrive with one run”, said trainer, Pat Fahy.
“But he had to go after the leader, there is no point coming when the race is over. Native Stag will now run in the Galway Hurdle, that's the plan, whether he's well out of the handicap or not.”
After Shaalayn had defied top weight in the Aghadoe Heights Hotel Handicap Hurdle, trainer, Colman Hennessy from Whites Cross, Co Cork, expressed concerns about his own future in the game.
“I have only two horses at the moment and unless I get some owners will have to have a big think. My strike rate is good, having had six winners in less than a year.”
Shaalayan battled on bravely for Martin Ferris, getting the best of the battle with Havetohaveit by the minimum margin.
“He's quirky, with a mind of his own, but has ability”, said Hennessy, who has a race at Sligo in mind for the nine-year-old.
Togher Castle, who scrambled to a narrow success at Roscommon previously, made a mockery of his new mark when streaking away with the first division of the Kerry Spring Water Handicap.
Chris Hayes, arguably the find of the season, brought him with a sweeping challenge down the outside to win by four and a half lengths.
Commented trainer, Thomond O'Mara: “I thought he wouldn't handle the ground. He went up 5lbs for the last day, so I booked Chris to claim the 5lbs back.”
The second section of the same contest saw Littleton Telchar become the first horse of the week to win two races. Trained by Mick Ryan at Newmarket in England, the five-year-old put up a fine performance to defy a 5lbs penalty and 10-2.
Given a cracking ride by Tadhg O'Shea, Littleton Telchar came from mid-division to outstay the flattering Soiaring Eagle in the closing stages.
Somethingforsunday, fifth on the flat here on Wednesday night, turned out in good shape to take the Colm Foley Memorial Novice Hurdle.
Alan Donoghue pushed her to the front before the final flight to beat Bythehokey by two lengths.
Trainer, Colm Murphy, said: “She has become so lazy at home and doesn't do a tap. The run here last night bucked her up. She will probably go to Galway and mix it on the flat for the summer.”
Favourite, Sunshine Guest, was travelling nicely on the heels of the leaders when making a near-disastrous blunder five from home.
Fran Berry, having his first ride back after a nine-day suspension, partnered Sarima to win the Dawn Omega Milk Maiden. The daughter of dual Derby and Prix de L'Arc winner, Sinndar, wore down the front-running Great Quest inside the furlong pole to win by a length.
Pat Martin, successful earlier in the week with Goose Island, saddled his second winner when Persian Return outbattled Jimmy Spot On in the Murphy Mitsubishi Motors Handicap.
The attendance at Killarney yesterday was a healthy 4,604, up from 4,147 a year ago.
