Mise Rafturai maintained her impressive rate of progress to complete a hat-trick in the featured Murphy's Irish Stout Handicap Hurdle as day three of the Killarney Festival was bathed in sunshine.
Gary Hutchinson's mount arrived with a smooth challenge in the straight, heading Vatirisk at the final flight to score by a length and a half. ''He's as tough as nails, and might go to Galway for a handicap over a longer trip. Alternatively we may give him a break, and come back at Christmas with a view to aiming at Cheltenham,' said trainer Paul Nolan.
Edwina Finn sent out her first winner since renewing her licence this year when Chicanery recorded a 20/1 shock in division one of the M D O'Shea Handicap. The five-year-old gelding was sent clear well over a furlong out by Catherine Gannon to beat Euro Friendly by five lengths.
Damian Murphy had his claim reduced from 10lb to 7lb after partnering his third winner aboard Ardwelshin in division two of the mile handicap. Murphy (18), from Kildare town, produced the Kevin Prendergast-trained gelding from off the pace to lead just inside the final furlong for a two-and-a-half-length victory over Adiysha.
Racegoers were treated to a real spectacle in the Killarney Oil Maiden where Birth Rite, trained and ridden by Charlie Swan, was galvanised by the former champion to edge out The Baltimore Man by half a length. 'He's tough, stays well and may go for the GPT Handicap at Galway,' said Swan.
Sail With The Wind, who is in foal to Namid and recorded her fifth career win in the opening Killarney Park Hotel Handicap, may be retired to the paddocks after having a tilt at Listed company in Leopardstown on Saturday. Paul Scallan gave the five-year-old mare a strong drive to hold off Near Dunleer by a neck, and the apprentice was subsequently handed out a three days suspension for using his whip with excessive force and frequency.
Meanwhile at Leopardstown, the in-form stable of Jim Bolger was again to the fore when completing a treble, highlighted by the victory of Luminata in the Listed Silver Flash Stakes. 'More than likely you will not see her again until the Moyglare Stud Stakes in September,' said Bolger, while he also announced that Darley Irish Oaks heroine will go to France for the Prix Vermeille instead of the Yorkshire Oaks.
Alan Magee
