Snow did not melt in Kerry

THE Noel Meade-trained Snow Falcon landed a substantial gamble when capturing the featured Laurels Pub & Restaurant Kingdom Gold Cup in Killarney last night.

Better known as a hurdler (with a Grade 2 success to his credit in that sphere), the 11/4 favourite made all under Colin Keane and stayed on strongly up the straight to beat Bayan by two and three-quarter lengths, with Sea The Lion third.

Snow Falcon was registering only his second win on the flat and providing Keane with his 56th success of the season.

And the season’s leading rider said: “He’s a proper horse over hurdles. Noel told me that if nobody wanted to go on, to let him stride along in front. I tried to stretch them from the turn-in and he galloped all the way to the line.”

Winner of York’s Lonsdale Cup and runner-up in the Melbourne Cup in 2015, the Willie Mullins-trained Max Dynamite returned to winning ways in the John Lane & Sons Tralee Race, quickening nicely for Patrick Mullins to outpoint Sandymount Duke.

This evening, Dermot Weld and Pat Smullen – in double form in Killarney on Wednesday – might follow-up with another brace at the Kerry track with Bella Estrella and Alaykhan.

Successful on her recent debut in Leopardstown, Bella Estrella can beat more experienced rivals in the one-mile rated race while Alaykhan appeals, with first-time blinkers, in the fillies maiden.

Tony Martin’s Golden Spear is expected to reverse Galway form with Top Othe Ra in the At The Races Handicap Hurdle.

Bruta sets the standard in the Seamus Mulvaney Bookmakers 3-Y-0 Hurdle.

And the Friday nap is Joseph O’brien’s Big Ben, runner-up to Aydoun at Galway, after a break, and fancied to land the Hurley Family Maiden Hurdle in Kilbeggan.

IT PAID OFF Noel Meade