Connell Nets a nice pot at Listowel Listowel’s day-one feature was the Kinisla Handicap Chase over an extended two and a quarter miles and Net Boy (12/1) made most to win in great style under Sean Flanagan. Contesting his first handicap, the Ballinrobe beginners’ winner had to deal with the attentions of the loose Bythesametoken, whose attempt to repeat last year’s victory got no further than the first where he blundered and unseated Danny Gilligan. The French-bred wasn’t knocked off his stride in any way, though, and moved away from his closest pursuers on the home turn to win by nine lengths from Jalila Moriviere. “He has really only had one-and-a-half runs over fences as he went at the third fence at Leopardstown and pulled a shoe when pulling up at Killarney. As a result, I thought the others would have too much experience for him,” explained winning owner/trainer Barry Connell. “He works to a similar level to my earlier runner Apple’s Of Bresil (second in the preceding novice chase) and there wouldn't be much between them, although this one is a two-miler and Apple’s Of Bresil is a three-miler. "It was a €45,000 handicap which is a lot for this grade of horses, so it was grand to get it done. He is a two-miler and is a young man's ride! "He jumped them like a set of hurdles and Sean wasn't taking a pull. He got away with it today because it is Listowel, but I'd be hoping he'll learn a little bit if he is to go to Leopardstown, or places like that. "There is a 0-130 at Leopardstown over Christmas for him, and if he gets up higher, there is the likes of the Dan Moore Chase." Additional reporting by Tom Weekes
