Kiki Badger and Aine O'Connor well clear in the finale© Photo Healy Racing
Kiki Badger easily justified 8/13 favouritism in the ladies bumper at Tipperary.
Aine O'Connor guided him into the lead inside the final half mile and the six-year-old gelding had his pursuers toiling in the last couple of furlongs.
He began to move clear, still on the bridle, and sauntered right away to win by a wide margin of 21 lengths for the McBride & Cochrane Partnership. Ringsend John was a remote second at 22/1 in front of Mille In Milan (7/1).
Trainer Anthony McCann said: "He was bought privately out of Mags Mullins' by Tom Cochrane and Patrick McBride, in partnership. Danny (Mullins' son) recommended him and said to me 'if you don't win by ten lengths today you're doing something wrong!'"
He added: "He was a little over the top at Punchestown the last day and was also struck into, so we decided to give him a break and he summered very well.
"I was a little concerned about the ground being on the fast side and I nearly withdrew my horse from the third race.
"It wasn't the best of bumpers, but you can only beat what's in front of you and he lengthened out very well. He'll probably go for a hurdle now."
Additional reporting by Tom Weekes
