Mark Nunan
Lipa K lands a touch for Eoin McCarthy
Lipa K and Gary Noonan
© Photo Healy Racing
The locally-trained Lipa K (33s this morning, returned 5/1) ) landed a touch in the Killarney Oils (Pro/Am) Flat Race.
The gelding by Mamool, ridden by 7lb-claiming conditional Gary Noonan, cruised to the front past market leader Felix Summus over two furlongs out. He was probably in front plenty soon and, having gone clear, he was in need of the line close home as Felix Summus rallied to within half a length of the winner. Themanintheboots and Our Champ were only another two half lengths away in third and fourth but the winner had done the business to the delight of some local punters.
Winning trainer Eoin McCarthy said: "We have loved this horse and when we took him away to work on grass I was two days trying to sleep after it. We knew he was very good last January and we have minded him as he is only a baby.
"He is a good horse and I think he will be sold now, but hopefully to stay in the yard. I'd love to keep a horse like him in my yard."
After an injury to jockey Ryan Treacy whose horse ran out in the previous chase, the bumper was delayed by seventeen minutes.
Quotes from Tom Weekes