McNiff doubles-up to keep locals happy The well-backed Ilbdare completed a double for Mark McNiff, as he got up in the closing stages to claim the Kevin Egan Cars Peugeot Handicap Hurdle. Available at 8/1, in early shows and before defections, for this near three-mile two-furlong contest, the Peter Wall-owned five-year-old eventually went off the clear 15/8 favourite under Phillip Enright. Settled behind the leaders on the outer and fitted with a tongue-strap for the first time, he improved into second approaching the last and was ridden to close on the front-running Arrycan upon entering the straight. With the usual last omitted due to the low lying sun, the market leader swept to the front inside the final 100 yards and came home a length to the good. The aforementioned Arrycan (12/1) had to settle for second under Richie Deegan for Liam Cusack, while Killinure Lass (7/1 from 12s) was a further 16-lengths back in third. "Plenty of them had a chance so if we had no winner today it was a disaster," McNiff, who was earlier successful with Moulane West, commented. "He should have won here last year, if he had jumped at all he would have won. "Obviously the track suited him. He maybe doesn't travel that brilliantly to the races and had only five minutes to come today. "Phillip and Michael McElhone would deserve the credit. I used to work for Michael years ago and he said after Tramore to maybe do a bit less with him. "Phillip said he was going to go as wide as wide can be. Normally Phillip is married to the rail. Micky is training him and Phillip riding him so it's very little to do with me!" STEWARDS REPORTS * Owing to low lying sun, the Raceday Stewards granted permission for hurdle one to be omitted from this race. * T.P. Harney, rider of Irish Envoy, trained by Liz Doyle, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount stopped very quickly. Additional reporting by Gary Carson
