Kirova collects in style Bobby Kirova opened his account with a cosy success in the Ravens Rock Novice Handicap Hurdle at Clonmel this afternoon. The Michael Butler-trained gelding hit the front before the straight in the two-mile-three contest and had his rivals at work before the second last. He had things in control over the final flight and Daniel King could afford to ease up late on to score by four lengths on the 12/1 shot. The winner, sporting cheekpieces for the first time, had been third on his first handicap start over hurdles at Kilbeggan early last month. “It was a very moderate race but we got through it,” said Butler. “He ran well to finish third the last day and was kind of entitled to win today. “We’ll get another run into him before the ground changes, he mightn’t like deep ground. There will be something coming up for him, maybe back here.”
