Cotter's Martinelli makes the breakthrough

Colin Keane partnered his second winner of the afternoon at Killarney as Martinelli (8/1) made the breakthrough in the three-year-old handicap over a mile.

The son of Blue Point hadn't got home over 1m6f on his previous outing at Navan and appreciated dropping back in trip. Having been settled towards the rear, he made steady progress on the outer in the straight and led inside the final 150 yards before holding fast-finishing Saith Seren by half-a-length. 

Owned by the Knobel McGrath Partnership, the winner is trained by Kieran Cotter who remarked: "He was a late-maturing type so hasn't been overly raced and had his trip and ground today, as he likes a good dig in it. I knew they'd go fast around here and watching it, I was very happy the whole way and it was a class ride from Colin. 

"We'll see what the handicapper does and he could eventually be a nice horse for someone to go hurdling with. He is very athletic, is well related and a brother (Bow Creek) had been at stud in England. Hopefully now he can keep improving."

Quotes from Tom Weekes