Kings Hill peaks for Gilligans in Limerick 

Kings Hill and Danny Gilligan with Mom Natalie and Dad Paul after their win. Pic: Healy Racing

Kings Hill, winner of the ‘Galway Blazers’ before being pulled up in the Kerry National last time, delivered for the father and son combination of Paul and Danny Gilligan in the €100,000 BOYLE Sports J T McNamara Muncter National in Limerick.

The grey 11/1 shot was challenging bold front-runner Anyway when that rival suffered a fatal fall at the second last, leaving Kings Hill to score, unchallenged, by ten lengths from Littlefoot, with Iceberg Theory third.

“It’s great to win any race, but special when your own lads are riding them,” explained Paul Gilligan. “We probably shouldn’t have gone to Listowel – the race didn’t suit him. But he’s won well today and it’s lovely to win it for all the lads involved, the owners, his breeder and all credit goes to the lads at home. 

“He’s not ungenuine, but the blinkers definitely sharpen him. I’m not sure where he’ll go now. He’s better going right-handed, so he could go for the ‘Paddy Power’. But he deserves a bit of a rest. The Galway Plate is a race I dream of winning, so that’s the long-term plan.” 

And winning rider Danny Gilligan, back from a flying visit to Far Hills, added, “It’s great, my first winner for Dad in Ireland. He was disappointing in Listowel, but the small field today and going right-handed helped him. Dad and the brothers at home have done a great job with him.” 

Only eleven horses went to post for the feature following seven withdrawals, due to ground conditions.

Successful with Bunker Buster on Saturday, another father and son team, Charles and Philip Byrnes, struck again when A Boy The Kid, after a 616-day absence, made all to land the Irish Wire Products Maiden Hurdle at the expense of Global Submission.

The winning rider explained, “He had nice bumper form two years ago but has had a few niggly problems, He’s bred to be a three-miler, but he liked going forward. All he does is gallop, but two miles is a good trip for him for the moment.” Earlier, the Willie Mullins-trained Kimi De Mai (Paul Townend) opened her hurdling account, at the tenth attempt, when outpointing favourite Brickfield Belle in the PwC Mares Maiden Hurdle.

Miners Bridge, trained by Sam Curling, completed a notable hat-trick when justifying 11/4 favouritism in the €50,000 STL Logistics Handicap Chase, Philip Enright’s mount mastering long-time leader El Champo.

And Amen Kate, ridden for Tom Cooper by Dan King, made a successful start over fences when beating Future prospect and Echoing Silence narrowly in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Beginners Chase.

Meanwhile, Aidan O’Brien and Wayne Lordan, who shared an unprecedented six-timer at Leopardstown on Saturday, were on the mark again at the Foxrock track when exciting three-year-old Come What May (4/6 favourite) bolted-up in the listed Trio Stakes.

The Nathaniel colt, a full-brother to Epsom Derby winner Desert Crown, raced prominently, edged ahead turning for home and, shaken up, powered clear to slam Diego El Queso by six lengths.

“He’s a colt with plenty of quality, and that was quite impressive,” said Lordan, “We’ve always liked him – he just needed time. He won his maiden well (at the Curragh three weeks ago), but we didn’t know what to expect today against the older horses. 

“He only opened up late at the Curragh and knew more about the job this time. A mile and a half will be no problem to him next season. He should develop into a smashing four-year-old.” 

King Cuan, winner of the recent Concorde Stakes at the Curragh and racing beyond seven furlongs for the first time, came from off the pace to land the listed Bahrain Turf Club Knockaire Stakes for Paddy Twomey and the Red Lily Syndicate, “He’s versatile, tough and has lots of ability,” stated Twomey, “He has fundamental class, Group 1 ability, but is not the easiest horse to train. But he proved himself today, carrying a penalty, on quick ground and over an extended mile. He’s in the Sales, but he’ll be kept in training, with plenty of options.” And Billy Lee, who rode King Cuan, completed a double and brought his seasonal tally to 96 when pouncing late on Michael Grassick’s Truth Be Told in the Bahrain Turf Club October Handicap, getting up late to beat Thatwolldoso and Latin America.

Champion-jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle savoured his first success since return from injury when getting Maurice Ahern’s Thyer (6/1) home narrow winner of the Christmas Festival Tickets On Sale Handicap.

And apprentice Jimmy Dalton shared a double with in-form Andy Slattery, landing the Nord Anglia Foxrock Cup Handicap on Highbury Cee Cee and the final flat race of the season at Leopardstown, the Watch Every Irish Race Live Handicap, with the consistent 7/2 favourite Zaraahmando.