Mcgroarty impresses on debut under rules

Winning pointer Mcgroarty got off the mark on his debut under rules when taking the First Auto Finance Joe Bollard Memorial Flat Race in fine style at Gowran Park.

The Brian Boru gelding took eight starts in point-to-points over the past few seasons before scoring between the flags at Kinsale earlier this month but wasted no time getting off the mark on the track.

The field was reduced from 13 to 8 mainly due to the good to firm ground conditions, and the David Kiely-trained six-year-old was sent off at 14/1.

Paul Power elected to send him to the front off the home turn, and he stayed on really well inside the final furlong to score by eight and a half lengths. Court Tycoon took the runner-up spot, with Boston Spray a further three lengths back in third.

Kiely, saddling his first winner under rules in over three years, said “Two and a half miles and dry ground is what he wants. He’s a good leaper, and I thought he would win a point-to-point on his first or second start.

“He was unlucky a few times and had mucus in his lungs a few times.”