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Michael Graham

Michael Graham

Bonnie Kellie delivers under King

Thu 26th Oct 2023, 17:31

Bonnie Kellie and Pa King tackle the final fenceBonnie Kellie and Pa King tackle the final fence
© Photo Healy Racing

Bonnie Kellie made the best way home to land the extended two and a-half mile handicap chase in Clonmel.

She stalked Kilashee and Pa King sent her on approaching two out. Her supporters had their hearts in their mouth for a moment as she got that obstacle all wrong, but King sat tight.

The pair moved clear of a tiring Kilashee at the final fence and her jumping was fine there as she came in by 12 lengths at 10/3.

Kilashee was backed from 11/1 to 6/1, but had to settle for second. She was 11 lengths clear of third-placed Jenny Flex (11/4f) with just the three horses finishing.

Trainer Sam Curling said: "She deserved that as she had been unlucky and was going to run well the last day (when exiting at the third-last).

"It wasn't pretty stuff today, but got the job done. It is very tough going today, but Pa said she was also getting a bit lonely up the home straight. 

"I'm delighted for the syndicate which are local and I'll leave her alone now until Christmas where she might go to Limerick for the Tim Duggan Memorial Chase. She could also go back over hurdles at some stage."

Additional reporting by Tom Weekes

About Michael Graham
Michael has worked in horse racing journalism for more than 15 years, having also written a weekly betting column on Gaelic football and hurling for a newspaper. He is involved in writing the My Racing Story features on this website. He spent a year in South Africa completing a Diploma in Business Administration and also studied Newspaper Journalism in Belfast. He enjoys playing 5-a-side football on a regular basis.