Rock Ya Boy Ya goes one better for Casey and Balfe Having finished second in the opening race of the afternoon, trainer Francis Casey and jockey Alix Balfe went one better as Rock Ya Boy Ya easily won the O'Sullivan's Cascade Handicap Hurdle at Killarney. A 28-race maiden, who had finished well beaten on his first run back after a long absence at Galway last month, the gelding did not go unsupported. As big as 50/1 in the morning, the seven-year-old was backed down to 14/1 before the off. Always front rank under Balfe, Rock Ya Boy Ya headed Diamonds Diva approaching three out. Asserting between the final two flights, the gelding kicked clear before the last, coasting home to an easy eight-and-a-half length success. Francis Casey said:"I fancied him more than my other runner (runner-up Jazzy Rock )He had been unfortunate a few times, had been placed in maidens and the handicapper seemed to take pity on me by dropping him 12lb having not run for two years. "It came right for Rock Ya Boy Ya today and he won very easy but it was low grade. "My last winner was Max Flamingo here three and a half years ago but I have a few young horses coming along who look very promising. I'm hoping to get my numbers back up again and we didn't lose our knowledge from the past." Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes.
