Blackmore completes double in Killarney National

The John Ryan trained Icantsay landed the first 'National' of the new season as the bottom weight won the Laurels Pub Killarney National Handicap Chase at Killarney today, to complete a double on the day for jockey Rachael Blackmore.

Blackmore had earlier steered the Harry Rogers trained Benkei to win a handicap hurdle and on Icantsay, forced the son of Spadoun to edge past Thanks For Tea close home, to score a three parts of a length win.

Afterwards Ryan stated "that trip and ground is exactly what he wants and he'll run in all those Nationals. He likes to go left-handed in particular and he stays really well.

"She gave him a peach of a ride and Danny (Mullins) had to get off him to ride Willie's (Augustin, unplaced) so he won't be best pleased!

"He is a Kerry National type of horse and that will be his ultimate goal. He was 6lbs wrong today so hopefully the handicapper won't be too hard on him today. Hopefully this could be his year."