Kings Hill claims major honours in JT McNamara Munster National Kings Hill (11/1) bounces back to form to win the BOYLE Sports JT McNamara Munster National Handicap Chase (Grade 3) in facile fashion over three miles at Limerick. Paul Gilligan's charge recorded a local success when winning the Galway Blazers comfortably at the festival in the height of summer; however, he failed to show any resemblance of that run in the Kerry National when pulled up before the second last. Back going right-handed, the PNT Partnership's gelding came out of the pack halfway down the back straight to hunt down the ill-fated, long-time leader Anyway and was arguably going best when he was left ten lengths clear at the second last. Danny Gilligan drove his mount out to account for Littlefoot (12/1), with Iceberg Theory (6/1) a length and a quarter behind him. Winning trainer Paul Gilligan said, "any race is good to win but when you're winning these races, it is extra special. It's wasn't a nice way to win with Anyway (who took an ill-fated fall) falling though. "I thought we shouldn't have gone to Listowel as it is a different track to Galway, where he had previously won, but he won well today and it is lovely for the owners. "It is good for Paul Lyons, his co-owner who is in Cyprus today, is important for the breeder Jimmy Lawler, from Kilkenny, and we bought the horse from Tony Costello. For small yards like us, it is not easy to find these horses but we have good supporters in the yard. I'm delighted. "Danny has only arrived back from riding in Far Hills in America last night, where he was involved in the American Grand National, so fair play to him. People might think it is great flying out to ride a horse but it is a big commitment. It is always better when your own lads are riding these winners. "He is a better horse racing right-handed and my dream would be to win a Galway Plate, so we'll look at that next year." Additional reporting by Tom Weekes.
