Dempsey opens account over hurdles

Luke Dempsey partnered his first winner over hurdles as On My Own ended a long losing run in the Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Hurdle at Killarney.

Dempsey, successful 14 times already on the flat, had the ten-year-old gelding up with the pace throughout and the 16/1 chance dug deep on the run-in to hold off Itsonthelist by half a length. Chief Of Panama was a length further back in third, with He Is Top Class completing the placings just a nose further back in fourth.

On His Own won three times a few seasons back but was revisting the winners’ enclosure for the first time in over two years.

Winning trainer Philip Fenton said, “He always travels like the best horse but normally spits it out at the second last.

“He had a wind operation around the first week in June, and it would be a fair assumption that it has been a help. He’ll go for another handicap.”