Kylecrue and Danny Mullins pictured on their way to victory© Photo Healy Racing
Kylecrue won the Kerry Group Handicap Chase for the third year in-a-row, as he made all under Danny Mullins for John Ryan.
Having opened at 7/1 on-course, the winning ten-year-old son of Gold Well eventually went off a 6/1 chance, and he was sent straight to the front by Mullins.
He had all his rivals off the bridle as they entered the straight, and he was ridden to assert after the second last. Bilko who was second at the time, crashed out at the last, while The Gatechecker rallied gamely on the run-in, but couldn't reel-in the winner, and went down by half a length.
The runner-up was also returned at 6/1 under Mark Walsh for Michael Hourigan, while Three Stars (11/2) was twenty-seven lengths back in third with Davy Russell aboard for Henry De Bromhead. Jack The Wire was sent off the 9/2 favourite (7s this afternoon and as short as 4s on-course), and he disappointingly pulled up before the second last.
John Ryan said afterwards: "He'll take some beating on Wednesday (Kerry National) if he gets in! He was first reserve and didn't get in last year but could get balloted out again this year but hopefully not.
"If he doesn't get in, he'll run in the Southampton Goodwill Chase later in the week and will then run in the Munster National at Limerick. He loves that heavy ground.
"He has E230,000 in prizemoney won now and is a great bit of stuff; he has run four times over fences here and has never been beaten."
STEWARDS REPORT
The Turf Club Veterinary Officer examined Jack The Wire, trained by Denis Gerard Hogan, at the request of the Stewards and reported the animal to be post race normal.
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
