Irish Soul jumps the last from Sebadee in second© Photo Healy Racing
The Davy Condon ridden Irish Soul who recorded a hat-trick of wins in late 2011, bounced back to his best as he took the International Hotel Killarney Handicap Hurdle for trainer James Motherway.
The nine-year-old son of Dushyantor has been out of form since he completed his hat-trick in 2011, finishing out of the money on his seven starts since.
He was last seen finishing seventeenth behind Followmeuptocarlow at Fairyhouse in April and he was sent off at 25/1 this evening.
Having chased the leaders in the early stages he was fifth at the halfway stage.
He improved into second, five flights from home and was ridden to challenge entering the straight.
He closed up three out and he stayed on well under pressure to lead before the last, keeping on well on the run-in to score by three and a quarter lengths.
Top weight Sebadee (28/1) ran a cracker under Ian McCarthy and he looked the most likely winner for a stage in the home straight.
He had to settle for second in the end for trainer Denis Cullen while Blossom Gate was a further length and a quarter back in third under Andrew Latta for John Kiely at 13/2. Landero (28/1) completed the placings a length and a quarter back in fourth for Andrew Thornton and Andrew Heffernan while the 7/4 favourite (2/1 this morning) Living Next Door finished a disappointing seventh under Ruby Walsh for Tony Martin.
James Motherway said afterwards: "I didn’t know what to expect from him today. I didn’t fancy him on that ground as he normally goes better on better ground.
"Davy (Condon) gave him a peach of a ride. He had him handy enough to keep him interested and that was a big help. He might go chasing now as he is old enough. He might need something to make him think."
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
