Cantlow rises to the challenge in Killarney National

Day two of Killarney’s May festival proved one for the second-strings, highlighted by Cantlow’s last-gasp victory in the featured McSweeney Arms Hotel Killarney National. After runner-up finishes in each of the last two years, it was a welcome change of luck for winning trainer Enda Bolger.

The JP McManus-owned 8-1 chance, whose stable companion, Federici, went off the 10-3 favourite, was settled out the back by Mark Walsh, and remained there until the final four furlongs of the three-mile-two handicap chase.

Your Busy had set a strong gallop from the outset, but was still in front turning for home, where the challengers began to queue up. He looked vulnerable from that point but, much to his credit, stayed on so strongly it took a rousing finish from Cantlow, just fifth jumping the last, to deny him victory, by half a length.