Kilbarry Saint outclasses her rivals

Kilbarry Saint ran away with the 80-95 handicap hurdle over two miles in Clonmel and literally won as she pleased.

An improved runner-up berth on her last start in Gowran was the leading piece of form going into this basement-grade race and saw her go off 10/3 favourite.

Jack Kennedy's eye-catching booking for The Niffler who was down to his last winning mark of 95, led to support down to 7/2 but the pair were well beaten in seventh.

Danny Gilligan took 5lb off joint top-weight Kilbarry Saint's back and the pair travelled smoothly to challenge approaching the straight.

The leader, Half Off Six Pence looked very vulnerable and so it proved as Kilbarry Saint readily swept by with over two furlongs to go.

She moved clear under a virtually motionless Gilligan and popped the last before easing in by six lengths. Tingarran Express (10/1) was best of the rest and was some 10 lengths clear of Half Off Six Pence (16/1). Each-way punters drew a dividend from fourth-placed A Nod To Getaway (7/1).

Trainer Con O'Keeffe said: "She had a good point-to-point run, but became disappointing in the interim when she became free and it took us a while to get the hang of her.

"She is an honest mare and, even though she is by Saint des Saints, she had a Flat pedigree and her dam is by Martillo. Black-type will be the ultimate aim, she is going the right way now and you'd never know she might be in the right place at the right time some day."

This was Kilbarry Saint's first victory at the seventh time of asking.

Additional reporting by Tom Weekes