Ear-plugs prove the key to Red

ODDS-ON Alpine Eagle proved a costly failure in the Kerrymaid Hurdle at the first stage of the Listowel Festival yesterday, trailing in a well beaten third behind Red Key.

Alpine Eagle tried to make all of the running, but had nothing to offer once passed heading to the home turn by a smooth moving False Economy.

But that horse in turn found little when asked and had no answer to Red Key, who surged ahead on the flat to score by a length and a quarter.