Native gives vintage National performance

THE Guinness Kerry National at Listowel yesterday provided owner, Donal O’Connor, with a magical result.

The Kilsheelan, Co Tipperary man, who has been coming to the meeting “for over 40 years”, watched bemused as his two horses, Native Performance and River Cora, both graduates of the Tom Costello academy, fought out the finish.

In the end it was the Michael Hourigan trained Native Performance, third last year and racing from 4lbs out of the handicap, who wore down Willie Mullins’ River Cora to score by a neck.