O'Brien and Browne McMonagle combo provides the goods in Killarney

Kizlyar and Dylan Browne McMonagle win for trainer Joseph O'Brien. Pic: Healy Racing

The final day of Killarney’s May meeting ended as it began: With Joseph O’Brien and champion jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle proving an irresistible combination.

Alphonsus Liguori landed the honours in the opening race, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden, but the 2-5 shot didn’t have it all his own way as Res Ipsa threw down a sustained challenge on the run-in, half a length eventually separating the pair at the line.

“It was a good performance,” Browne McMonagle said of the winner, who came here on the back of a promising debut when second to stablemate Perisher at Gowran Park last month.

“I got caught for a little toe at the bottom of the straight as Colin [Keane, on Res Ipsa] came around me but he found plenty for pressure. He’s a lovely horse and will only improve so has a nice future.” 

The double was completed in the Killarney Racegoers Club Race as 11-1 shot Kizlyar refused to be passed by 6-5 favourite Sky Captain, three-quarters of a length separating the pair at the line.

Browne McMonagle said: “He relaxed well in front and he felt like he was always holding on, he was never going to get beat. Billy [Lee, Sky Captain’s jockey] was challenging him but he came at me early enough and he had every chance to go past but my lad was good and tough. He felt nice and hopefully he’ll keep on progressing.” 

Joseph wasn’t the only O’Brien on the mark as Glyfada, trained by brother Donnacha, made it two wins from three starts when showing a potent turn of foot to win the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Race by half a length in the hands of Gavin Ryan.

Runner-up on debut at the Curragh, the Camelot filly got off the mark at Naas last month but that win came over an extended 10-furlongs and the winning rider admitted dropping back to a mile here was “a little worry”.

However, Ryan added: “Donnacha was very happy sending her down for it. I had a little bit of a question mark, just depending on how slow they went. She’s obviously a filly that likes to have a lead, she had a good look when she got there the last day, so I obviously had that little worry in my head.

“But today she definitely surprised me when she hit the front, I thought she found a gear that I didn’t really know she had and she galloped through the line.” 

The finish of the evening came in the FEXCO Maiden where the Gordon Elliott-trained Hygge got up late to thwart 6-5 favourite Treasure Rose.

Third in all four starts over hurdles last season, Hygge again looked for minor honours on his Flat debut but the 20-1 shot powered home late on in the hands of Declan McDonagh to snatch victory by a neck.

Ryan McElligott, representing Elliott, said: “Gordon quite liked him in the autumn but it didn’t happen for him. He did that quite nicely, he probably would have been an unlucky loser so I think he might have found his niche. He’s a nice horse, he could go up in trip, a more galloping track will probably suit him. The owners will have plenty of fun with him.” 

The Velo Coffee Roasters Handicap produced another surprise result as 33-1 shot Nibras Rainbow, a past course and distance winner, dug deep to get the better of Jasmine Affanalis by a short head.

The Paul Flynn-trained six-year-old made most of the running for Leigh Roche but looked booked for second when headed 100 yards from home. However, he rallied gamely and got his head in front where it matters.

The winning jockey said: “He broke smart today and I got a nice position on him. In Cork the last day, when a crowd of horses come by him, he can curl up a little bit but today I got my own way in front.

“In fairness he had to be gutsy because he got headed late on, Luke [McAteer, Jasmine Affanalis jockey] definitely got half a length up on me and in fairness he battled back well and got his head down at the right time.” 

Shane Foley kept it simple on the Ken Condon-trained Femme Beauty in the Brehon Hotel Handicap and Ghaiyyath filly, an 8-1 shot here, never saw a rival as she finally shed her maiden tag.

“I had a nice willing partner,” Foley said. “I got it pretty easy on the front end, she was loving it. And she fought all the way up the straight. It’s taken her until now to win but she might win again.” 

The Henry de Bromhead-trained Factual Fact did the business in the Outlook Publications Handicap, getting the better of Harry’s Legacy by half a length in the hands of Josh Dunne.

Assistant trainer Robbie Power said: “He had a good run at the Curragh on his first start over a mile and a half and we thought stepping up to two miles would definitely suit him and Jody gave him a lovely ride. I’m delighted for the horse to get his head in front and hopefully he can progress from that.” 

Meanwhile, Sligo’s seven-race jumps card produced four winning favourites. 

The Andrew McNamara-trained Hey Now landed the spoils at 15-8 in the opening maiden hurdle before 3-1 joint-favourite Beir Bua won race two, a mares’ maiden hurdle for Andy Slattery.

Speculateur took advantage of a gild-edged opportunity to open his account in race four at odds of 1-5 before 11-10 shot In A Sonnet sent punters home happy by landing the bumper for Willie Mullins.