King for the Day on Daredevil
Completing a double for Connor King, he turned what looked to be inevitable failure early in the straight to glorious victory at the line.
Daredevil Day got shuffled back shortly after turning and was last of the eight runners with time running out.
King had to switch him around the whole field, but, once seeing daylight, the Holy Roman Emperor colt fairly flew and was nicely on top close home.
“I was sure he would only be fourth, after he was cut off,” said a relieved Murphy. “The horse has heart and courage and it looks like will go to Galway.”
Rory Cleary, who partnered third-placed Gone Viral, was found guilty of careless riding and suspended for two days.
Earlier, King gave Willie McCreery’s Colour Blue an excellent drive to land the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Median Auction Race.
He soon had the daughter of Holy Roman Emperor striding along in front, but saved plenty for the latter stages of the contest.
Davids Park, who never really travelled through the contest, tried to mount a challenge in the closing stages, but Colour Blue refused to wilt and was half a length to the good at the line.
Commented McCreery: “She was entitled to that, the 5lbs (King’s) was crucial. She is a very honest little filly and was given a good ride. He got a few lengths turning in.”
The two miles and a furlong of the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase looked plenty short enough for The Crafty Butcher, but the well-backed favourite made light of it.
Partnered by in-form Adrian Heskin, the Crafty Butcher stayed on doggedly in the straight to wear down Time Please, after the latter had been left in front when Liberty’s Gift fell three out.
Winning trainer, Michael Hourigan, said: “I thought the trip might just do him. He is dying for those fences and we might have a look at a winners of one now.”
Hospital, successful over flights at Limerick previously, justified favouritism in the Killarney Outlook Publications Handicap Chase.
Taken from 5-2 to 2-1, Eric McNamara’s six-year-old got a fine drive from Mark Walsh.
Beckwith Star appeared to have this won coming away from the second last, but Walsh never gave up and had his reward in the dying strides, with Hospital finally getting there to score by a short head.
Said McNamara: “He’s a good tough horse and seems to be staying better than he did last season. He will mix it between fences and hurdles for the summer.”
Henry de Bromhead’s You Must Know Me was a theoretical certainty to beat three rivals in the O’Connor, O’Shea Solicitors Novice Chase, having between 20lbs and 28lbs in hand of them.
He went off at short odds and delivered, but was far from impressive. Indeed, Sammy Black appeared to have his measure all the way up the straight
But Sammy Black’s rider, Danny Mullins, seemed more intent on getting his charge safely across the final fence, rather than going for broke, and that allowed the favourite to mount a challenge.
Once Andrew Lynch got a scent of victory, the race ended as a contest and You Must Know Me stretched away on the flat to score by an unlikely four lengths.
For most of the mile and six www.killarneyraces.ie Race the odds-on front-running Arctic Fire shaped as the most probable winner.
He entered the final furlong still apparently in control, but suddenly began to find it hard work and was nailed by Seamie Heffernan and Shu Lewis, the verdict a nose.
“She always does her best, but was never right last season,” exclaimed trainer, Monica Dowdall Blake, of her game mare.
Truly Delightful, trained by Tom Cleary and ridden by his son, Rory, put up a decent effort to defy top weight in the Killarney Vintners’ Handicap, holding the persistent Future Earner by half a length.
