'He's going to be a nice dual-purpose horse' - Kinirons Blue Moon Boy added to two Flat wins last year when opening his jumping account in the Dunlop Homes Rated Novice Hurdle at Downpatrick. There were still plenty in contention at the final flight and Conor Smithers’ mount made headway between horses to lead on the run-in. The 17/2 chance (available at 14/1 this morning) held off the late surge of Sea Of Doubt by half a length with Maxwell Smart a further length and a quarter back in third. Winning trainer Andrew Kinirons said, "He's a tough little horse. "He ran a great race first run in a handicap (at Sligo) and then Sean (O'Keeffe) rode him the last day and we fancied him. He had a real clear passage and then a horse just side on hit him in Tramore, and Sean said he wasn't travelling after that and he just was easy on him. "I'm delighted for Conor; he does a lot of schooling for me. He's a good lad and he is always available and he would school a lot of the horses for me. “Sean O'Keeffe usually rides my horses, but Conor does all the schooling for me in the Curragh. He is a brilliant schooling jockey. It is great to see him getting the winners now because he is some value for his claim. He gave that a brilliant ride. "Conor actually rode my first runner probably six years ago at the start of August, so I know Conor a good while. "We'll tip away with Blue Moon Boy. I was going to run him in the 0-100 and the conditions of this race were like a 95 - 110. He is 95 and he got in with the allowance and Conor did the weight on him. "I'm delighted for the owner (Gerhard Matte). It is his third win for us and he bred him. I've never met the man; he lives in Germany and is a doctor. "He's going to be a nice dual-purpose horse. He's only a four-year-old." Quotes by Michael Graham
