Ya Boy Ya is certainly a horse very close to James Kenny’s heart and he completed the full National Hunt set on the gelding in the Mid-Summer Monday 14th June Race Evening Beginners Chase at Kilbeggan.

The 22-year-old Gorey amateur partnered his first winner under rules on Colin Bowe’s charge in a bumper at Downpatrick back in 2019, and the successful point-to-point rider was enjoying his first chase win here under rules.

The 17/2 chance and One Down drew clear of their rivals after the penultimate fence, with the latter holding a slight advantage over the last.

However, Ya Boy Ya gamely responded to Kenny’s urgings on the run-in and got nicely on top in the closing stages to score by four and three quarter lengths. Low Sun kept on into third on his first chase start a further six and a half lengths adrift.

Kenny said, “He’s been a good old servant. I’ve won a couple of point-to-points on him, a bumper and a maiden hurdle, so I’ve won every type of race on him now.

“He’s been a great horse to me and I’m with Colin every day.”