Odds-on Hanney Boy scrapes home in Cork's opener Odds-on favourite for the five-furlong Irish EBF Auction Series Maiden at Cork, having finished a close-up third in a Listed contest at Naas earlier in the month, Hanney Boy scaped home by a short-head in the hands of Liam Keniry. The consistent son of Kodi Bear, never worse than third in four previous starts, travelled strongly in the front rank and was shaken up to lead over a furlong out. Soon in command, the 8/11 chance drifted left away from the whip inside the final furlong and his followers got a fright in the final strides as Blooming Sally, fourth at the furlong marker, powered home and was up a stride after the line.  "He is a fast horse, has lots of pace and had the experience," said winning trainer Evanna McCutcheon. "Our lad has run to his mark and the second horse will probably go on to good things as well. "Liam is connected with the English owner (Alison Jones) and rides out for me too. With the horse's connections, we could travel to the UK for races and he'll stick to five or maybe six furlongs. "He is actually a bit sharper in his work than (one-time high-class sprinter and the trainer's) Maarek at times but is a chilled-out dude at the same time." Liam Keniry added "I've been back in Ireland for a year and a half now and ride out in Ballydoyle, which is good. I had a good time riding in England, but always had it in my mind to return home at some point and with my daughter being two, we decided it was a good time to come back for schools, and that." "Evanna has done a great job with the horse and he has been very consistent. He was very quick into stride and after the gates opened, I was a length in front and we probably went quick enough to be honest. We probably set it up for another horse to finish fast, so he did well to win. "He has loads of pace and maybe the stiff finishes have been catching him out recently." Additional reporting by Tom Weekes
