Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
BAT’S THE WAY TO DO IT AS TED EYES UP THE KERRY NATIONAL
NEXT month’s Kerry National is among the options open to Batcio after he landed the featured BoyleSports Handicap Chase at Killarney yesterday.
Ted Walsh’s charge took control of this €40,000 affair early in the straight and the Brian Hayes-ridden gelding got home by three lengths from The West’s Awake.
“I’ll put him in the Kerry National but he is a horse who runs well fresh and his big target is the Grand Sefton Chase at Aintree in November,” reported Walsh (inset).
Jockey Philip Byrnes rode his first winner as a professional when Run For Oscar, trained by his brother Cathal, landed the two and three quarter miles handicap hurdle.
The 15/2 co-favourite knuckled down well under pressure in the closing stages to defeat Line Out by a length. It was a day to remember for another rider in Dylan Cleere who rode the first winner of his career aboard the Emmet Mullins-trained Shiroccoville in the 80-95 rated handicap hurdle.
On her first start for the Mullins yard the 100/30 joint favourite got home by three lengths from Trouble And Strife.
Joseph O’Brien’s tremendous run of form continued as Embittered got off the mark over fences in the two mile beginner’s chase. This gelding, who was sent off favourite for the Grand Annual at Cheltenham in March, had to work for this victory but he got home by half a length under Donagh Meyler.
O’Brien then added to his haul when Druid’s Altar won the novice chase under JJ Slevin. The four-year-old made the most of a significant weight for age concession to defeat Jungle Junction by just over four lengths.