The feature race on the final day of the Killarney August Festival, the Grade C Batty O'Sullivan Haulage Handicap Hurdle went the way of The Bull Hayes with Barry Geraghty aboard, recording a double on the evening for trainer Jessica Harrington (who scored earlier with Hurricane Ridge .
Sent off at 5/1, the 5yo son of Sadler's Wells won his maiden hurdle easily at Leopardstown in January of this year, but failed to follow up on that win on his three starts over hurdles since.
He was last seen finishing a well beaten fifth of six behind Address Unknown at Galway on the level, but he bounced back to his best today.
Having raced in second for much of the race, he then improved to dispute the lead four out before kicking clear from the last, racing away to win by three and a half lengths. Life Of Reilly for John Kiely finished second at 6/1 while Akinspirit at 5/1 for Michael Butler completed the placing a neck back in third.
The 4/1 favourite Coscorrig who opened at 13/2 on track, could only manage to finish a disappointing seventh for Dessie Hughes with Bryan Cooper aboard.
Winning rider Barry Geraghty, who flew in from the US today after finishing second on Dirar at Saratoga, said: "I could have gone North (to Down Royal) for a couple of rides but I took a punt and came here instead."
Winning trainer Jessica Harrington, who was not present for the win, was recording her fourth winner at Killarney this week, having scored with Law Rebel on Wednesday, Bullock Harbour on Thursday and Hurricane Ridge earlier today.
Donal Murphy
