Kiely's Goodbye Someday a rapid improver

Evens favourite Goodbye Someday is really on an upward curve and took the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle by two lengths from Mandarin Monarch (17/2) as the pair pulled well clear of Ashqar (7/1) back in third.

The Stowaway 6-year-old got off the mark on his 11th career start at Tramore in July before comfortably scoring at the same track last month, and this victory made it three wins in his last four starts.

The runner-up stuck to his task well, but Eoin Walsh’s mount was not hard pressed to maintain his advantage.

Tommy Kiely, nephew and assistant to winning trainer John Kiely, said: “He seems to be an improved horse this year and we're delighted with him.

“He's a light-framed, good-actioned horse and a quick jumper so two miles on that ground is probably his optimum.

“I walked the track before and it was nice ground. It was yielding ground, a bit dead but he seemed to handle it and it was a great performance. He keeps surprising us and is improving.

“The family seems to improve with age. Obviously his mother (Liss A Paoraigh) was a triple Grade 1 winner so it's some pedigree.

“We were thinking of coming back here next week for a winners of two but he's not eligible now.

“He's entered in Punchestown next week but won't go there now. Maybe the Joe Mac in Tipperary might be a target if the ground stays nice.

“As soon as the ground goes he'll get a break as he's been on the go a while now.”

Winning rider Eoin Walsh, for whom it was a 10th winner of the season, added: “He jumps very slick, he’s A to B and it fell apart in front of him and he just picked it up nicely. Summer racing suits him. The ground is definitely no worse than yielding.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson