Kells Priory successfully returned from a 718-day layoff to win at Killarney today, landing the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle for trainer Louise Lyons and jockey John Shinnick.

On his previous run, the seven-year-old had finished third at the Galway festival in July 2022 and today returned as a 20/1 outsider.

In the race, Kells Priory was held up in rear by Shinnick who gradually improved position to lead on the run-in, beating Bella Bliss by a half-length.

Lyons' husband and winning owner Nicky Teehan commented “getting horses back from long layoffs might be over-rated nowadays with the way gallops are, and I think it is more of an achievement to win first-time out. He knows how to race so it was just trusting his fitness.

“He was working well with Lady Rita (which disappointed in the previous race) but she dented my confidence. I told Johnny not to get involved early on and if it happened it happened and he gave him a super ride.”

He added “he is two years off after getting a 'leg'; we tried bringing him back last summer but before we got him cantering, we got him checked again by Jack McCarthy in Fethard and were advised to wait.

“He will go on any ground and the handicapper was kind enough to drop him 7lb. I told a few friends that if he was fit, he'd be 7/1 so told them to have a few quid on but I didn't unfortunately.

“The Galway festival might be a quick turnaround for him and might instead come back here in August.”