Red Kelly hits the line in front of Sunchart© Photo Healy Racing
Red Kelly cut down front-running Sunchart to win the BoyleSports Ulster Derby under Shane Kelly.
It was a profitable afternoon for Kelly as this was his second winner on the card. In addition, Red Kelly gave trainer Johnny Murtagh a Down Royal treble.
Red Kelly was given a whopping hike of 21lb after winning a 45-70 handicap in Leopardstown by seven lengths at the start of the month.
The rise in the weights, and the step up in trip, didn't deter punters who sent him off the 9/4 favourite for this extended mile and a half premier handicap.
Sunchart (10/1) looked to have the field in trouble off the front, but Red Kelly unleashed his challenge in the final furlong and picked him off with 100 yards to go.
He took the honours by three parts of a length at the line. Baby Zeus was three lengths further back in third at 9/2.
Johnny Murtagh said: "The handicapper has his job to do. You can't blame a horse that is improving, he is bred to improve with time and with distance, and he has improved from his first run of the year to his last run.
"I don't think there's too many horses in Ireland that get 21lb; he was proved right to give him 21lb. We'll see what he gives him again, he has a job to do.
"We think he is a big baby and whatever he does this year he is sure to improve. I had a lot of big horses last year and that is why we are having such a good year this year. They seem to have strengthened up over the winter.
"I think he is (still improving in his work at home). He is by Manduro who is a stallion that gets three and four-year-olds. He has improved.
"I did (fancy him today). I thought it was going to be tough, I would have loved to have had a run in between. It's the fifth run of his career and he is after winning the Ulster Derby, so he's probably a pretty smart horse.
"The second horse (Sunchart) ran in the Irish Derby so it was a good race. The best two horses were in the front two.
"I'm delighted for Shane Kelly as I think that is the biggest win he has had for us. He works hard and deserves his win so I'm delighted.
"This year we have hit a rich vein of form - big horses improving with every run. We like to see them keep coming forward on every run."
Kelly and Murtagh also teamed up with Measure Of Magic in the opener. Ben Coen was on board Murtagh's She's Our Queen in the fillies' maiden.
