The Paul Nolan band wagon rolled into Killarney today and added the featured Hotel Europe to an impressive recent haul, with City Hall collecting under Barry Geraghty.
The former Triumph Hurdle runner-up was described by Nolan as 'a great servant who loves his jumping.' He added that the ten year old, who was recording his seventh career win, 'will probably go for a similar handicap at Galway.'
The opening Grand Hotel Killarney Novice Chase provided some action with eventual winner Windsor Boy benefiting from the fall of Dalian Dawn at the third last fence. Dalian Dawn looked set to atone for a heavy fall at Roscommon last month but gave Ruby Walsh another crashing fall here when looking the most likely winner. Fortunately both horse and jockey escaped uninjured.
Winning trainer Edward O'Grady later mentioned 'Windsor Boy seems to have taken well to fences and will probably go to Galway now. Killarney seems to be a lucky place for him as he won here last year in a similar manner.'
The expected Limerick invasion of Kerry for next Sunday's Munster Final began early with the home team experienced a taste of what is to come when trainer Austin Leahy saddled his Gane Marie to steal the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden for Limerick.
The first horse owned by Limerick farmer Dan Crowley, Gane Maria battled gamely under Helen Keohane with Leahy later mentioning 'she is a nice mare and I gave her every chance today.'
Pat Martin's Rathgowney Lad landed the Kiely's Electrical Stores Handicap under Niall McCullagh, who drove the winner to the front 150 yards from home, eventually winning by three lengths.
Jockey Andrew McNamara has made a fine start to his professional career and he rode Leos Shuil to win the 2m6f handicap hurdle. The daughter of Good Thyne was patiently ridden before striking the front before the final flight.
Kiely mentioned that a three mile handicap hurdle at Galway is on the winner's agenda while adding the 'it was Andrew's first time riding for me and I'll use him again.'
Sandy Owen defeated 6/4 favourite The Last Hurrah to win the River Rock Race under Jamie Spencer while the concluding Derrinstown Stud Apprentice Claiming Race looked an average race and fell to market drifter Caribelle (1/1 to 2/1) under Davy Condon.
Thomas Weekes.
