Excelcius opens hurdle account in Killarney feature

Excelcius rewarded support at fancy prices when taking the featured Dawn Milk Run Handicap Hurdle on day four of the Killarney July meeting.

Available as big as 50/1 overnight, the Tom Mullins-trained gelding was sent off at 14/1 for this 2m1f event and showed a smart turn of foot approaching the last to put the race to bed.

Sean O’Keeffe’s mount jumped to the front at the penultimate flight and drew clear on the run-in to beat Bythesametoken by eight and a half lengths. Elegant Lass was just a head further back in third.

O’Keeffe said, “He was quite keen through the race but they went a nice gallop and he jumped really well. He was brave at the second last.

“He’s progressing and is starting to learn his job over hurdles. He showed a bit of Flat pace.

“Tom has done a good job with him and he’s a nice horse to look forward to.”

Excelcius won a Dundalk maiden for Ger Lyons as a two-year-old but had failed to add to that tally in 21 runs under both codes since.