Thekingofconnemara enjoys Gowran trip

On only his fourth run over hurdles Thekingofconnemara successfully graduated to Grade C company in Gowran Park.

Liz Doyle’s seven-year-old gelding proved up to winning this valuable three mile handicap hurdle worth 30,000 euro (with 19,500 euro going to the winner).

Adrain Heskin, on his only ride on the card, had the son of Vinnie Roe at the head of affairs two out. However a slow untidy jump at the last looked to have handed the initiative away.

Once shown the whip though, Thekingofconnemara found another gear to hit the line a length to the good at odds of 9/2. Abolitionist (12/1) survived a bad blunder six out to stay on well after the last for second. He was three and a quarter lengths in front of Greatness at 6/1. Grand Partner the well-backed 7/2 favourite, didn’t threaten today in eighth.

“He's good first time out. I've not really had anything to run to gauge how the yard is,” Liz Doyle said.

“The ground was perfect for him as was the trip and the weight. He went and did it really well. He improved a lot from his first handicap at Listowel before we put him out for a summer break. It stood to him today and he travelled well.

“He looks on the upgrade and is something to look forward to. He may go over fences somewhere along the way. He battled well as he looked beaten two strides after the last but he finished it off like a good horse.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson