Senecia wins Killarney’s featured An Riocht Chase Highly-tried Senecia (morning 28s, returned 10/1) benefited from a recent surgical procedure when returning to form at a lower level today, landing Killarney’s featured Grade 3 Boyle Sports An Riocht Chase for the Halley family. Winner of the Grade 2 Webster Cup in March 2025, the nine-year-old had given vain chase to racing’s biggest names Gaelic Warrior and Il Etait Temps last season and, on his previous run in February, was tailed off when pulling up after jumping three fences in the top-level Dublin Chase. In contrast, Senecia today made the running under regular rider Philip Enright and maintained his gallop to score a length success from 155-rated Three Card Brag . Winning trainer Vincent Halley reported “he has plenty ability but had a lot of issues although is back on the straight and narrow now, so hopefully he can get to the Galway Plate next. “He had a recent wind procedure done which seemed to help a lot at home as his work had been very good. We also brought him to the beach but until they run, you don’t know what to expect. Coming into today’s race, I thought he was as good as ever and thought he would have a squeak. If you go back to his Webster Cup win or his run in the Fortria Chase a couple of years ago, he has put in big runs. “He just needed that wind procedure done to help his breathing. “He is as fresh as ever, still retains a lot of ability and he is just one of two horses I have at the moment — the other is a companion and point-to-pointer. I also work for trainer Eoin Griffin too and it would be great to get this horse to the Galway Plate now.”
