Back-to-back bumper winners for Conor Houlihan Dungarvan trainer Conor Houlihan, who only received his licence in November, made it two bumper winners in six days when Kiltybo (5s into 3/1 before the off) made all under Barry Stone in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Flat Race at Thurles. Fifth here on Rules debut in December, the daughter of Idaho responded well when asked for more in the home straight and, despite edging left in the closing stages, passed the post with three and a half lengths to spare over Moyneard. Kiltybo is owned by Anthony Murphy, in whose colours Nan’s Choice was successful for Houlihan on Red Mills Day at Gowran Park last weekend. Winning trainer Conor Houlihan exclaimed "I can't believe it, having two winners in a week and it is surreal to be honest. I'm delighted and this mare did it the hard way out in front. "She had been working with the other mare who won at Gowran. It is hard to pick between them, but I'm obviously going to say that the one (Nan’s Choice) currently in Cheltenham for a sale tomorrow, is the better one! "This one is a homebred and will be staying, so we might now look for a winners' bumper in the spring. She will improve on nicer ground as she seems to work better on a drier sod, so we're really looking forward to her." Additional reporting by Tom Weekes
