Senectute foiled as Jack storms home

De Senectute was expected to continue her rise up the ratings with a third win on the bounce since joining Willie Mullins but those that invested at 1/2 for the Killarney Grand Live Music Venue Handicap Hurdle were left disappointed.

In fairness De Senectute might well have collected, but it wouldn't have been in the style one would expect of such a prohibitively priced market leader. She was niggled along by Paul Townend (seeking a double) but she had got on terms with the front running Zhdanovichy when making a terrible blunder at the last.

This left the way for Jack Cool (1st run for Charles Byrnes and 8s into 5s on track) to come storming up the run-in under Brian Byrnes, eventually getting on top to prevail by half a length from Zhdanovichy with three parts of a length back to Carrleoni in third and a length and a half back to De Senectute in fourth.

Winning trainer Byrnes explained afterwards: "He had flat form on softish ground which was always going to be a help. He was probably a lucky winner but they all count.

"He is owned by Philip McGee, an Irish man based in England. He backed the horse at 14s and 16s this morning. We'd have fancied our lad strongly only for the favourite being in the race. He'll go to Galway now for some race in the second half of the week, as the owner is coming over."