Akatara at last!

Doubtless there was in-running carnage as Akatara came from another parish to win on the line in the three mile handicap hurdle at Kilbeggan. Derrinlanna and Excellent As Usual were fully 10 lengths clear jumping two out. Excellent As Usual then moved into the lead after the last and had the race at his mercy.

However, he tied up markedly on the climb to the line allowing Akatara (8/1) and Mimi And Bow (11/1) to swoop and flash past the line together.

There was a neck in it, with Michael Bowe’s charge declared the winner, partnered by Brian Hayes.

Remarkably the six-year-old mare was winning for the first time on her 37th start. Referring to that, Michael Bowe said: “I finally found the key to her and that’s to run her every second day! [fourth at Tramore on Friday evening].

“I’m not in the habit of running them again so quickly, but she’s a bit different. We’ll keep her on the go for the summer now.

“Brian thinks that she’ll make a fabulous chaser. She’s an Aga Khan bred.”

Additional reporting by Donal Murphy