Paul Flynn© Photo Healy Racing
Second in the betting behind front-running odds-on favourite Killiney Court, Steel King (9/4 into 7/4) came out on top in the finale at Ballinrobe, the Live The Dream With Tote Maiden Hurdle.
Paul Flynn and Kevin Sexton joined forces with this Kalanisi gelding and himself and Denis Hogan's outsider Island Villa had it between them from before the last as the aforementioned Killiney Court cried enough.
In the end Steel King found what was required on the run-in to triumph by three parts of a length.
Flynn explained: "I was going to wait until after Galway but I entered him here just to see and I'm glad I did now.
"I think he'll be a good horse when he goes fencing. His sister is quite good – Cailin Annamh (by Definite Article).
"It's nice that he's won as Michael (Regan, winning owner) has three horses with me and he hasn't had a winner this year. He might keep me on for another year!
"I don't know where he'll go now but he'll definitely skip Galway. If I was brave enough I might go for the good handicap at Sligo afterwards – I might enter him and see what it looks like.
"He jumps well enough and he stays." (DM & EM)
