Kinsella keeps hope alive with welcome winner

Trainer Andrew Kinsella was no stranger to the winners’ enclosure in the ‘noughties’ (ten winners in his best season 2008) but has kept a lower profile in more recent times.

It was good to see him back in the number one spot for the first time since 2010 when first reserve Mi Esperanza (16/1) was prominent all the way under Gavin Ryan before proving half a length too good for fellow front-runner A Step Too Far (15/2) in the TipperaryRaces.ie Handicap. Sestriere (12/1) rattled home from off the pace to be third with the 10/3 favourite Bahlwan beaten less than a length in total in fourth.

A daughter of Dandy Man, who minutes earlier had been on the mark with 6l Albany Stakes winner Dandalla, Mi Esperanza had been second a couple of times at Navan and may have been helped on this occasion by the sharper track and first-time cheekpieces.

"In fairness she needs soft ground, said winning trainer Andrew Kinsella.

"I came here very hopeful with the rain we got but when I came here I was surprised. Once I got down the road I thought she'd be in the first four but didn't think she'd win it.

"In fairness to Darren Bunyan (trainer of non-runner in the race Snow Patch) he rang me first thing this morning so I was able to go early and we needed that as well.

"I have only two horses in training at the moment; there's nothing I love more than training horses but it is hard when you are a small yard. You have to do the best you can with what you have because you don't always have good horses.

"I'm happy this lady has done that so hopefully we can get a bit of notice again and people might consider me."

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes