Kubali comes good in style

It seems a long time now since his promising debut effort at Dundalk when second back in April. However it came together beautifully on start number nine when Kubali ran riot in the Dunloe Hotel Handicap at Killarney under Colin Keane.

The top-weight and well-backed 7/4 favourite Kubali made all to thrash Path Of Silver by seven lengths.

Winning trainer Ger Lyons, and Keane had been on the mark here last evening with Percy, owned by the handler's wife Lynne. Kubali meanwhile is owned by Sean Jones.

"He was beaten fair and square at Leopardstown but today was the right race with the right pace and he got the right draw (1) and it all just worked," said Lyons.

"Obviously he's going to get a penalty for it and we'll see where we go but there is a lot of interest in him to go jumping and I'd say the handicapper will dictate how we sell him.

"He is entered in the coming days but I couldn't run him as it's a four and a half hour trip down for us and it's the farthest trip for us.

"You think you're well-in (on handicap ratings) but you're not and it never works for me. Sometimes it works and you look clever and it'd be different if you're talking Navan or Fairyhouse but after a trip like that you've got to think of the horse.

"You'd think he's after having an easy race but he's after having a good sweat and those horses try hard."

(TW & EM)