Kilclispeen wins a 2nd at Downpatrick

Course winning maiden hurdler Kilclispeen struck under Jody McGarvey in the Coors Lite Handicap Chase at Downpatrick.

Champion conditional Rachael Blackmore looked like she'd delivered Admiral Bob with perfect timing up the inner away from the last.

However, with the stand's side rail to help the J P McManus-owned and Joseph O'Brien-trained Kilclispeen found enough to come out on top by just a head.

"It just got a bit tight down the inner and I had to switch out and he had a good jump at the last and to be fair to him he battled well up the hill. I thought Rachael (Blackmore on Admiral Bob) just got a run on me but in fairness to him he stuck his old head out and did it," stated McGarvey.

"Look it's the lowest of the low. The second horse was way out of the handicap rated 60 or 70 or something. It just shows you the strength in depth to the race."

The Stewards interviewed C.D. Maxwell, rider of Chelate concerning his use of the whip in the latter stages of this race. Evidence was heard from the rider concerned. Having viewed a recording of the race and considered the evidence the Stewards were of the opinion that C.D. Maxwell was in breach of R10(4) by failing to give his mount time to respond to the whip and cautioned him having taken his previous record into consideration.

(MG & EM)