Hour strikes again for McCourt

Hero Of The Hour made it two from three since joining Tom McCourt when landing the Curragh to Curragh Cycle Apprentice Handicap at Naas.

James Ryan took the mount again on the 4/1 shot having partnered him to a dead-heat success at Down Royal last month.

The Lord Kanaloa gelding came to challenge a furlong from home and got on top in the closing stages, in the race run over just shy of six furlongs, to record a half-length win over finisher Viva Voce

“He's been very well and he's enjoying it,” said McCourt.

“James was good on him as well, if anything he said he got to the front a bit too soon on him. He thinks the longer you wait the better.

“He's a lovely horse, very straightforward, and he's just on a good roll at the moment.”

The winner was defying a 10lk hike having dead-heated at Down Royal last time and he added:-

“I thought 10lb for stiff for a seven-year-old at the time. I got on to Mark (Bird handicapper) about it but it was just the fact that there was four lengths back to the third horse, it looks like he was right. He's never too far wrong.

“I don't know whether he'll be gone out of that grade now. We'll tip away and we always have Dundalk as well. I think there is a race for him in Bellewstown over five furlongs.”