Sizing Killarney (left) and Jonathan Burke lead Crystal Pearl over the last© Photo Healy Racing
Sizing Killarney got his career off to a successful start when taking the CIT Horse Racing Maiden Hurdle at Cork.
Jonathan Burke sent the 7/2 chance to the front after three out but was soon challenged by well-backed 6/4 favourite Crystal Pearl
However the Henry de Bromhead-trained gelding found more under pressure on the run-in, and kept on well to score by three quarters of a length.
The pair stretched 15 lengths clear of On The Dry in third.
De Bromhead said, "I'm delighted with that and he jumped really well. It's not the cleverest thing winning a maiden hurdle at this time of year but I think he'll be jumping a fence straight away next winter and he looks a real three miler.
"He is slow at home but is a real stayer in time and is exciting. All the time he gets will stand to him and I'll speak to Alan and Ann about where we go next but the winners' of one at Punchestown, if it turns up soft, is a possibility."
(TW & AM)
