Kalico Kim clears the last under Tim Carroll from Taken Twice in second© Photo Healy Racing
Kalico Kim (6/1 into 9/2 on course) recorded back to back victories in the Hurley Family Handicap Hurdle for her trainer John Ryan with Tim Carroll in the saddle.
The 8yo daughter of King's Theatre, who was recording her fourth career success, ran eight times since winning the race last year but failed to follow up on that win until this evening.
Having tracked the leaders early on, she hit the front approaching the third last where she made a mistake.
She went on at the second last and stayed on well under pressure from there to score by two and a half lengths from the Eoin Griffin trained Taken Twice back in second at 10/1 under Eddie O’Connell. Donttellmother kept on to take third for Ben Dalton and Conor O’Dwyer a further eight lengths back at 8/1 while Swift Lady completed the placings a further four and a quarter lengths back in fourth under Bryan Cooper for Paddy Meany.
The gamble of the race was Athronan who opened at 13/2 (touched 7/1) and was backed into 7/2 favourite at the off. However he finished a disappointing seventh under Paul Carberry for trainer Gordon Elliott.
Winning trainer John Ryan, who was recording his third win of the new season, said afterwards: "She is a nice mare.
"She lost her way a bit on heavy ground. Good ground is the key to her she can’t walk in anything else.
"They have to go a gallop for her. If she is off the bridle after the first mile she usually runs a blinder. The last day they went too slow and she never got a chance to settle.
"She might come back here for something or she could go novice chasing."
(On course reporting by Gary Carson)
